Bremerton, WA vs Bellingham, WA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Bellingham, WA is 2.2% less expensive than Bremerton, WA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Bremerton works out to about $73,400 in Bellingham, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 12.9% less in Bellingham. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,951 a month in Bellingham and $2,052 in Bremerton, $1,212 a year less in Bellingham (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $608,000 in Bellingham and $579,000 in Bremerton.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.5%).
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.
Housing drives the gap: 12.9% lower in Bellingham than in Bremerton
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Bremerton, WA
- Bellingham, WA
All items Bremerton, WA: 105.6 Bellingham, WA: 103.3
Goods Bremerton, WA: 105.0 Bellingham, WA: 105.0
Housing (rents) Bremerton, WA: 129.6 Bellingham, WA: 112.9
Utilities Bremerton, WA: 92.0 Bellingham, WA: 99.9
Other services Bremerton, WA: 99.5 Bellingham, WA: 99.5
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bremerton, WA | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.6 | 103.3 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 105.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 129.6 | 112.9 |
| Utilities | 92.0 | 99.9 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 99.5 |
| Category | Bremerton | Bellingham | Bellingham vs Bremerton |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.6 | 103.3 | −2.2% |
| Goods | 105.0 | 105.0 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 129.6 | 112.9 | −12.9% |
| Utilities | 92.0 | 99.9 | +8.5% |
| Other services | 99.5 | 99.5 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,052 | $1,951 | −4.9% |
| Typical home value | $579,000 | $608,000 | +4.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Bremerton | $75,000 | $73,400 | −2.2% |
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 Bremerton and Bellingham has narrowed since 2008: 10.8 points then, 2.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Bremerton, WA
- Bellingham, WA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bremerton, WA | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.0 | 96.2 |
| 2009 | 105.8 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 103.4 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 103.9 | 103.2 |
| 2012 | 103.6 | 102.0 |
| 2013 | 103.1 | 100.4 |
| 2014 | 104.8 | 101.1 |
| 2015 | 105.0 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 107.1 | 98.7 |
| 2017 | 107.3 | 101.0 |
| 2018 | 107.2 | 104.2 |
| 2019 | 105.6 | 104.1 |
| 2020 | 105.4 | 103.5 |
| 2021 | 103.6 | 104.6 |
| 2022 | 108.9 | 106.0 |
| 2023 | 107.4 | 104.0 |
| 2024 | 105.6 | 103.3 |
Goods
- Bremerton, WA
- Bellingham, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bremerton, WA | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.3 | 95.4 |
| 2009 | 106.6 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 105.3 | 97.8 |
| 2011 | 106.1 | 99.2 |
| 2012 | 101.1 | 99.7 |
| 2013 | 102.8 | 97.7 |
| 2014 | 104.6 | 96.0 |
| 2015 | 105.8 | 94.9 |
| 2016 | 104.4 | 93.9 |
| 2017 | 108.4 | 99.5 |
| 2018 | 104.8 | 104.8 |
| 2019 | 104.7 | 104.7 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 106.6 | 106.6 |
| 2022 | 109.4 | 109.4 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 105.0 | 105.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Bremerton, WA
- Bellingham, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bremerton, WA | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 121.3 | 96.6 |
| 2009 | 117.2 | 111.8 |
| 2010 | 112.3 | 104.6 |
| 2011 | 118.2 | 112.4 |
| 2012 | 118.3 | 106.3 |
| 2013 | 116.4 | 103.6 |
| 2014 | 116.3 | 108.5 |
| 2015 | 116.0 | 113.7 |
| 2016 | 120.1 | 103.3 |
| 2017 | 114.8 | 107.2 |
| 2018 | 129.1 | 108.5 |
| 2019 | 123.9 | 112.0 |
| 2020 | 124.6 | 111.0 |
| 2021 | 116.0 | 121.3 |
| 2022 | 130.2 | 109.6 |
| 2023 | 132.7 | 109.6 |
| 2024 | 129.6 | 112.9 |
Utilities
- Bremerton, WA
- Bellingham, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bremerton, WA | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 81.1 | 75.7 |
| 2009 | 82.7 | 79.0 |
| 2010 | 84.3 | 85.9 |
| 2011 | 86.6 | 88.4 |
| 2012 | 88.1 | 89.5 |
| 2013 | 93.1 | 86.9 |
| 2014 | 90.6 | 88.2 |
| 2015 | 98.4 | 90.8 |
| 2016 | 95.4 | 86.6 |
| 2017 | 95.9 | 82.2 |
| 2018 | 85.7 | 89.0 |
| 2019 | 88.1 | 91.7 |
| 2020 | 89.3 | 91.9 |
| 2021 | 89.6 | 92.1 |
| 2022 | 83.4 | 86.7 |
| 2023 | 82.5 | 86.9 |
| 2024 | 92.0 | 99.9 |
Other services
- Bremerton, WA
- Bellingham, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bremerton, WA | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.6 | 98.3 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 101.1 |
| 2010 | 100.7 | 100.2 |
| 2011 | 99.6 | 103.5 |
| 2012 | 101.7 | 102.6 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 101.9 |
| 2014 | 102.2 | 102.6 |
| 2015 | 101.4 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 105.2 | 100.9 |
| 2017 | 105.0 | 101.1 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 101.6 | 101.6 |
| 2020 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2021 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2022 | 103.8 | 103.8 |
| 2023 | 102.6 | 102.6 |
| 2024 | 99.5 | 99.5 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,951 in Bellingham vs $2,052 in Bremerton
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Bremerton, WA
- Bellingham, WA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Bremerton, WA | Bellingham, WA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,039 | $958 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,058 | $990 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,089 | $1,020 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,089 | $1,009 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,110 | $1,030 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,166 | $1,053 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,198 | $1,080 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,188 | $1,084 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,212 | $1,114 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,273 | $1,138 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,273 | $1,173 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,274 | $1,168 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,322 | $1,217 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,368 | $1,235 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,349 | $1,259 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,360 | $1,266 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,409 | $1,308 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,457 | $1,327 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,457 | $1,325 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,441 | $1,310 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,485 | $1,415 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,480 | $1,399 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,522 | $1,393 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,522 | $1,408 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,583 | $1,487 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,710 | $1,525 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,804 | $1,578 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,810 | $1,635 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,816 | $1,653 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,859 | $1,727 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,866 | $1,730 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,798 | $1,735 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,794 | $1,791 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,813 | $1,806 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,847 | $1,823 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,836 | $1,804 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,866 | $1,848 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,914 | $1,862 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,943 | $1,863 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,944 | $1,864 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,974 | $1,899 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,983 | $1,937 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,988 | $1,896 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,980 | $1,879 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,992 | $1,948 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,052 | $1,960 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,052 | $1,951 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $608,000 in Bellingham vs $579,000 in Bremerton
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Bremerton, WA
- Bellingham, WA
- 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
| Bremerton, WA | Bellingham, WA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $268K | $271K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $273K | $277K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $280K | $282K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $289K | $288K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $298K | $296K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $305K | $302K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $312K | $308K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $325K | $316K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $336K | $324K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $343K | $333K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $346K | $343K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $351K | $351K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $360K | $359K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $369K | $371K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $376K | $381K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $379K | $385K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $382K | $390K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $390K | $396K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $399K | $402K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $408K | $411K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $418K | $423K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $427K | $429K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $440K | $440K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $466K | $462K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $493K | $486K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $520K | $519K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $537K | $538K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $544K | $548K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $570K | $579K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $593K | $607K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $577K | $594K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $560K | $578K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $546K | $570K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $550K | $577K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $556K | $582K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $555K | $584K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $557K | $585K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $564K | $594K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $566K | $601K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $571K | $609K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $572K | $611K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $571K | $607K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $573K | $606K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $579K | $612K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $582K | $615K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $579K | $609K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $579K | $608K | $366K |
More about each city
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.