Bellingham, WA vs Chicago, IL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Chicago, IL 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 Chicago, before taxes.
- Housing is 0.8% lower in Chicago, goods 2.1% higher and other services 1.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 16.3% lower in Chicago.
- Typical asking rent is $2,163 a month in Chicago and $1,951 in Bellingham, $2,544 a year more in Chicago (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $356,000 in Chicago and $608,000 in Bellingham.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.4%).
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 Chicago
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Bellingham, WA
- Chicago, IL
All items Bellingham, WA: 103.3 Chicago, IL: 103.6
Goods Bellingham, WA: 105.0 Chicago, IL: 107.3
Housing (rents) Bellingham, WA: 112.9 Chicago, IL: 112.0
Utilities Bellingham, WA: 99.9 Chicago, IL: 83.6
Other services Bellingham, WA: 99.5 Chicago, IL: 100.5
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 103.6 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 107.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 112.9 | 112.0 |
| Utilities | 99.9 | 83.6 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 100.5 |
| Category | Bellingham | Chicago | Chicago vs Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 103.6 | +0.3% |
| Goods | 105.0 | 107.3 | +2.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 112.9 | 112.0 | −0.8% |
| Utilities | 99.9 | 83.6 | −16.3% |
| Other services | 99.5 | 100.5 | +1.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,951 | $2,163 | +10.9% |
| Typical home value | $608,000 | $356,000 | −41.5% |
| 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 Chicago has narrowed since 2008: 9.3 points then, 0.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Bellingham, WA
- Chicago, IL
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.2 | 105.4 |
| 2009 | 102.3 | 106.5 |
| 2010 | 99.8 | 106.1 |
| 2011 | 103.2 | 106.9 |
| 2012 | 102.0 | 105.1 |
| 2013 | 100.4 | 104.2 |
| 2014 | 101.1 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 101.2 | 102.6 |
| 2016 | 98.7 | 103.8 |
| 2017 | 101.0 | 105.2 |
| 2018 | 104.2 | 104.2 |
| 2019 | 104.1 | 102.6 |
| 2020 | 103.5 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 104.6 | 105.5 |
| 2022 | 106.0 | 105.7 |
| 2023 | 104.0 | 102.5 |
| 2024 | 103.3 | 103.6 |
Goods
- Bellingham, WA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.4 | 104.5 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 106.2 |
| 2010 | 97.8 | 104.8 |
| 2011 | 99.2 | 105.8 |
| 2012 | 99.7 | 103.2 |
| 2013 | 97.7 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 96.0 | 101.7 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 99.2 |
| 2016 | 93.9 | 99.1 |
| 2017 | 99.5 | 102.2 |
| 2018 | 104.8 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 104.7 | 105.2 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 103.4 |
| 2021 | 106.6 | 106.3 |
| 2022 | 109.4 | 106.6 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.3 |
| 2024 | 105.0 | 107.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Bellingham, WA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.6 | 124.0 |
| 2009 | 111.8 | 122.9 |
| 2010 | 104.6 | 124.5 |
| 2011 | 112.4 | 122.6 |
| 2012 | 106.3 | 119.8 |
| 2013 | 103.6 | 122.7 |
| 2014 | 108.5 | 122.6 |
| 2015 | 113.7 | 122.4 |
| 2016 | 103.3 | 121.4 |
| 2017 | 107.2 | 119.7 |
| 2018 | 108.5 | 117.8 |
| 2019 | 112.0 | 116.3 |
| 2020 | 111.0 | 117.3 |
| 2021 | 121.3 | 114.0 |
| 2022 | 109.6 | 111.2 |
| 2023 | 109.6 | 111.0 |
| 2024 | 112.9 | 112.0 |
Utilities
- Bellingham, WA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 75.7 | 95.5 |
| 2009 | 79.0 | 90.8 |
| 2010 | 85.9 | 88.6 |
| 2011 | 88.4 | 89.8 |
| 2012 | 89.5 | 86.6 |
| 2013 | 86.9 | 80.3 |
| 2014 | 88.2 | 89.7 |
| 2015 | 90.8 | 91.9 |
| 2016 | 86.6 | 92.5 |
| 2017 | 82.2 | 92.7 |
| 2018 | 89.0 | 91.1 |
| 2019 | 91.7 | 80.5 |
| 2020 | 91.9 | 81.6 |
| 2021 | 92.1 | 82.7 |
| 2022 | 86.7 | 85.5 |
| 2023 | 86.9 | 77.0 |
| 2024 | 99.9 | 83.6 |
Other services
- Bellingham, WA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bellingham, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.3 | 102.0 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 103.3 |
| 2010 | 100.2 | 103.0 |
| 2011 | 103.5 | 104.3 |
| 2012 | 102.6 | 103.4 |
| 2013 | 101.9 | 102.6 |
| 2014 | 102.6 | 100.1 |
| 2015 | 101.2 | 100.3 |
| 2016 | 100.9 | 102.8 |
| 2017 | 101.1 | 103.9 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 102.1 |
| 2019 | 101.6 | 99.2 |
| 2020 | 100.7 | 103.0 |
| 2021 | 98.8 | 103.9 |
| 2022 | 103.8 | 104.8 |
| 2023 | 102.6 | 100.6 |
| 2024 | 99.5 | 100.5 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,163 in Chicago vs $1,951 in Bellingham
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Bellingham, WA
- Chicago, IL
- 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 | Chicago, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $958 | $1,347 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $990 | $1,375 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,020 | $1,376 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,009 | $1,363 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,030 | $1,392 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,053 | $1,414 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,080 | $1,417 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,084 | $1,391 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,114 | $1,428 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,138 | $1,458 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,173 | $1,450 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,168 | $1,430 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,217 | $1,463 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,235 | $1,492 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,259 | $1,483 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,266 | $1,467 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,308 | $1,501 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,327 | $1,532 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,325 | $1,528 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,310 | $1,511 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,415 | $1,546 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,399 | $1,545 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,393 | $1,525 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,408 | $1,484 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,487 | $1,515 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,525 | $1,587 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,578 | $1,624 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,635 | $1,630 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,653 | $1,677 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,727 | $1,743 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,730 | $1,766 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,735 | $1,758 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,791 | $1,798 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,806 | $1,851 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,823 | $1,865 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,804 | $1,856 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,848 | $1,893 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,862 | $1,943 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,863 | $1,953 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,864 | $1,954 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,899 | $1,999 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,937 | $2,055 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,896 | $2,066 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,879 | $2,059 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,948 | $2,109 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,960 | $2,163 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,951 | $2,163 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $356,000 in Chicago vs $608,000 in Bellingham
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Bellingham, WA
- Chicago, IL
- 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 | Chicago, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $271K | $199K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $277K | $201K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $282K | $203K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $288K | $207K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $296K | $210K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $302K | $212K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $308K | $213K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $316K | $216K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $324K | $221K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $333K | $223K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $343K | $225K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $351K | $228K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $359K | $232K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $371K | $235K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $381K | $235K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $385K | $236K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $390K | $239K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $396K | $241K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $402K | $240K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $411K | $240K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $423K | $244K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $429K | $245K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $440K | $246K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $462K | $255K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $486K | $265K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $519K | $274K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $538K | $278K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $548K | $280K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $579K | $292K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $607K | $302K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $594K | $300K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $578K | $298K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $570K | $297K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $577K | $304K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $582K | $311K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $584K | $314K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $585K | $318K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $594K | $325K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $601K | $327K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $609K | $331K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $611K | $334K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $607K | $335K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $606K | $339K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $612K | $343K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $615K | $348K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $609K | $351K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $608K | $356K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Bellingham, WA
- Cost of living in Chicago, IL
- Reverse: moving from Chicago to Bellingham
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.