CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Trenton, NJ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostWA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
NJ
Trenton
103.2
overall index
$2,450/mo rent

Bellingham and Trenton have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+19.7%
Bellingham
112.9
Trenton
135.1
🛒 Groceries5.0%
Bellingham
105
Trenton
99.8
🚗 Transportation1.5%
Bellingham
104.4
Trenton
102.8
🏥 Healthcare1.6%
Bellingham
94.5
Trenton
93
Utilities+12.4%
Bellingham
99.9
Trenton
112.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Trenton, NJ
$79,900
$100 less needed in Trenton

Formula: salary × (103.2 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9990. 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×

Trenton, NJ

Median Home Price
$434,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,450
Housing Index
135.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Trenton has 19.7% 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

Trenton, NJ

Median Household Income
$96,200
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Population
90,871
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducation

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)

Trenton, NJ
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.