Bellingham, WA vs Bend, OR: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Bend, OR and Bellingham, WA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Bellingham works out to about $75,200 in Bend, before taxes.
- Housing is 2.6% lower in Bend, goods 0.2% higher and other services 0.8% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $2,218 a month in Bend and $1,951 in Bellingham, $3,204 a year more in Bend (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $659,000 in Bend and $608,000 in Bellingham.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.2%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Bellingham and Bend
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Bellingham, WA
- Bend, OR
All items Bellingham, WA: 103.3 Bend, OR: 103.6
Goods Bellingham, WA: 105.0 Bend, OR: 105.3
Housing (rents) Bellingham, WA: 112.9 Bend, OR: 110.0
Utilities Bellingham, WA: 99.9 Bend, OR: 105.0
Other services Bellingham, WA: 99.5 Bend, OR: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Bend, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 103.6 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 105.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 112.9 | 110.0 |
| Utilities | 99.9 | 105.0 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 100.3 |
| Category | Bellingham | Bend | Bend vs Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 103.6 | +0.3% |
| Goods | 105.0 | 105.3 | +0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 112.9 | 110.0 | −2.6% |
| Utilities | 99.9 | 105.0 | +5.1% |
| Other services | 99.5 | 100.3 | +0.8% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,951 | $2,218 | +13.7% |
| Typical home value | $608,000 | $659,000 | +8.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Bellingham | $75,000 | $75,200 | +0.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Bellingham and Bend has narrowed since 2008: 3.6 points then, 0.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Bellingham, WA
- Bend, OR
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Bend, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.2 | 99.8 |
| 2009 | 102.3 | 98.7 |
| 2010 | 99.8 | 96.6 |
| 2011 | 103.2 | 95.7 |
| 2012 | 102.0 | 95.8 |
| 2013 | 100.4 | 96.1 |
| 2014 | 101.1 | 98.2 |
| 2015 | 101.2 | 100.9 |
| 2016 | 98.7 | 99.0 |
| 2017 | 101.0 | 101.3 |
| 2018 | 104.2 | 103.1 |
| 2019 | 104.1 | 102.9 |
| 2020 | 103.5 | 102.9 |
| 2021 | 104.6 | 102.0 |
| 2022 | 106.0 | 106.8 |
| 2023 | 104.0 | 105.3 |
| 2024 | 103.3 | 103.6 |
Goods
- Bellingham, WA
- Bend, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Bend, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.4 | 102.3 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 100.4 |
| 2010 | 97.8 | 99.3 |
| 2011 | 99.2 | 98.3 |
| 2012 | 99.7 | 96.8 |
| 2013 | 97.7 | 95.9 |
| 2014 | 96.0 | 97.7 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 103.4 |
| 2016 | 93.9 | 104.4 |
| 2017 | 99.5 | 101.2 |
| 2018 | 104.8 | 104.6 |
| 2019 | 104.7 | 104.5 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.6 |
| 2021 | 106.6 | 106.5 |
| 2022 | 109.4 | 109.1 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.8 |
| 2024 | 105.0 | 105.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Bellingham, WA
- Bend, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Bend, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.6 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 111.8 | 96.9 |
| 2010 | 104.6 | 91.5 |
| 2011 | 112.4 | 85.1 |
| 2012 | 106.3 | 90.8 |
| 2013 | 103.6 | 90.4 |
| 2014 | 108.5 | 98.3 |
| 2015 | 113.7 | 103.2 |
| 2016 | 103.3 | 99.0 |
| 2017 | 107.2 | 107.3 |
| 2018 | 108.5 | 101.6 |
| 2019 | 112.0 | 104.0 |
| 2020 | 111.0 | 107.7 |
| 2021 | 121.3 | 101.5 |
| 2022 | 109.6 | 110.9 |
| 2023 | 109.6 | 111.1 |
| 2024 | 112.9 | 110.0 |
Utilities
- Bellingham, WA
- Bend, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Bend, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 75.7 | 73.7 |
| 2009 | 79.0 | 78.7 |
| 2010 | 85.9 | 83.4 |
| 2011 | 88.4 | 89.6 |
| 2012 | 89.5 | 87.5 |
| 2013 | 86.9 | 85.4 |
| 2014 | 88.2 | 88.2 |
| 2015 | 90.8 | 89.0 |
| 2016 | 86.6 | 93.2 |
| 2017 | 82.2 | 88.3 |
| 2018 | 89.0 | 92.0 |
| 2019 | 91.7 | 94.3 |
| 2020 | 91.9 | 94.2 |
| 2021 | 92.1 | 96.7 |
| 2022 | 86.7 | 90.3 |
| 2023 | 86.9 | 90.4 |
| 2024 | 99.9 | 105.0 |
Other services
- Bellingham, WA
- Bend, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Bend, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.3 | 102.2 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 99.7 |
| 2010 | 100.2 | 97.9 |
| 2011 | 103.5 | 99.4 |
| 2012 | 102.6 | 97.6 |
| 2013 | 101.9 | 99.7 |
| 2014 | 102.6 | 99.1 |
| 2015 | 101.2 | 99.0 |
| 2016 | 100.9 | 96.0 |
| 2017 | 101.1 | 99.7 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 101.6 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 100.7 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 98.8 | 99.1 |
| 2022 | 103.8 | 104.5 |
| 2023 | 102.6 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 99.5 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,218 in Bend vs $1,951 in Bellingham
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Bellingham, WA
- Bend, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Bend, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $958 | $1,117 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $990 | $1,168 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,020 | $1,210 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,009 | $1,166 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,030 | $1,221 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,053 | $1,289 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,080 | $1,285 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,084 | $1,275 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,114 | $1,320 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,138 | $1,358 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,173 | $1,357 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,168 | $1,331 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,217 | $1,337 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,235 | $1,399 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,259 | $1,411 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,266 | $1,411 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,308 | $1,431 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,327 | $1,485 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,325 | $1,502 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,310 | $1,496 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,415 | $1,498 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,399 | $1,551 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,393 | $1,649 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,408 | $1,740 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,487 | $1,806 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,525 | $1,962 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,578 | $2,023 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,635 | $1,932 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,653 | $1,969 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,727 | $2,034 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,730 | $2,051 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,735 | $1,997 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,791 | $2,018 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,806 | $2,064 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,823 | $2,071 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,804 | $2,059 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,848 | $2,076 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,862 | $2,111 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,863 | $2,123 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,864 | $2,062 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,899 | $2,100 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,937 | $2,153 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,896 | $2,151 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,879 | $2,148 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,948 | $2,152 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,960 | $2,235 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,951 | $2,218 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $659,000 in Bend vs $608,000 in Bellingham
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Bellingham, WA
- Bend, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Bend, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $271K | $305K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $277K | $312K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $282K | $320K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $288K | $333K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $296K | $342K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $302K | $348K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $308K | $353K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $316K | $362K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $324K | $374K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $333K | $379K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $343K | $381K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $351K | $387K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $359K | $400K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $371K | $408K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $381K | $414K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $385K | $417K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $390K | $423K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $396K | $423K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $402K | $428K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $411K | $436K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $423K | $448K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $429K | $453K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $440K | $461K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $462K | $494K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $486K | $539K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $519K | $598K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $538K | $629K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $548K | $646K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $579K | $680K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $607K | $714K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $594K | $691K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $578K | $661K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $570K | $645K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $577K | $652K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $582K | $669K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $584K | $676K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $585K | $672K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $594K | $679K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $601K | $684K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $609K | $684K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $611K | $679K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $607K | $668K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $606K | $663K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $612K | $665K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $615K | $664K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $609K | $657K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $608K | $659K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.