CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Stockton, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
CA
Stockton
105.1
overall index
$2,325/mo rent

Bellingham is slightly cheaper than Stockton — 1.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $81,400 in Stockton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+2.4%
Bellingham
112.9
Stockton
115.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bellingham
105
Stockton
105.2
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Bellingham
104.4
Stockton
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.8%
Bellingham
94.5
Stockton
95.3
Utilities+58.4%
Bellingham
99.9
Stockton
158.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bellingham to see what you'd need to earn in Stockton to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Stockton, CA
$81,400
$1,400 more needed in Stockton

Formula: salary × (105.1 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 1.0174. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Home Price
$598,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
112.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.6×

Stockton, CA

Median Home Price
$522,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,325
Housing Index
115.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.7×

Stockton has 2.4% higher housing costs compared to Bellingham.

Income & Job Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Household Income
$74,900
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
92,314
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingTourism

Stockton, CA

Median Household Income
$87,400
Per Capita Income
$49,800
Unemployment Rate
6.6%
Population
320,804
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareLogisticsManufacturingEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bellingham, WA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Stockton, CA
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

68% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.