Salem, OR vs Bellingham, WA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Bellingham, WA and Salem, OR are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Salem works out to about $74,800 in Bellingham, before taxes.
- Housing is 2.4% higher in Bellingham, goods 0.2% lower and other services 0.8% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,951 a month in Bellingham and $1,646 in Salem, $3,660 a year more in Bellingham (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $608,000 in Bellingham and $447,000 in Salem.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Bellingham was 2.2% more expensive than Salem.
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 Salem and Bellingham
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Salem, OR
- Bellingham, WA
All items Salem, OR: 103.6 Bellingham, WA: 103.3
Goods Salem, OR: 105.3 Bellingham, WA: 105.0
Housing (rents) Salem, OR: 110.3 Bellingham, WA: 112.9
Utilities Salem, OR: 104.7 Bellingham, WA: 99.9
Other services Salem, OR: 100.3 Bellingham, WA: 99.5
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salem, OR | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | 103.3 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 105.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 110.3 | 112.9 |
| Utilities | 104.7 | 99.9 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 99.5 |
| Category | Salem | Bellingham | Bellingham vs Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | 103.3 | −0.3% |
| Goods | 105.3 | 105.0 | −0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 110.3 | 112.9 | +2.4% |
| Utilities | 104.7 | 99.9 | −4.6% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 99.5 | −0.8% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,646 | $1,951 | +18.5% |
| Typical home value | $447,000 | $608,000 | +35.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Salem | $75,000 | $74,800 | −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 Salem and Bellingham has narrowed since 2008: 2.0 points then, 0.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Salem, OR
- Bellingham, WA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salem, OR | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.1 | 96.2 |
| 2009 | 99.0 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 98.9 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 98.2 | 103.2 |
| 2012 | 101.1 | 102.0 |
| 2013 | 99.3 | 100.4 |
| 2014 | 97.7 | 101.1 |
| 2015 | 98.9 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 98.7 |
| 2017 | 99.1 | 101.0 |
| 2018 | 102.4 | 104.2 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 104.1 |
| 2020 | 100.9 | 103.5 |
| 2021 | 102.0 | 104.6 |
| 2022 | 104.8 | 106.0 |
| 2023 | 102.5 | 104.0 |
| 2024 | 103.6 | 103.3 |
Goods
- Salem, OR
- Bellingham, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salem, OR | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.7 | 95.4 |
| 2009 | 102.3 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 100.3 | 97.8 |
| 2011 | 100.6 | 99.2 |
| 2012 | 101.9 | 99.7 |
| 2013 | 99.6 | 97.7 |
| 2014 | 100.2 | 96.0 |
| 2015 | 98.4 | 94.9 |
| 2016 | 100.2 | 93.9 |
| 2017 | 99.9 | 99.5 |
| 2018 | 104.6 | 104.8 |
| 2019 | 104.5 | 104.7 |
| 2020 | 104.6 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 106.5 | 106.6 |
| 2022 | 109.1 | 109.4 |
| 2023 | 104.8 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 105.3 | 105.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Salem, OR
- Bellingham, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salem, OR | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 82.5 | 96.6 |
| 2009 | 93.1 | 111.8 |
| 2010 | 95.5 | 104.6 |
| 2011 | 90.9 | 112.4 |
| 2012 | 96.3 | 106.3 |
| 2013 | 92.4 | 103.6 |
| 2014 | 89.1 | 108.5 |
| 2015 | 90.2 | 113.7 |
| 2016 | 91.2 | 103.3 |
| 2017 | 95.0 | 107.2 |
| 2018 | 97.6 | 108.5 |
| 2019 | 98.1 | 112.0 |
| 2020 | 96.5 | 111.0 |
| 2021 | 101.8 | 121.3 |
| 2022 | 99.6 | 109.6 |
| 2023 | 95.7 | 109.6 |
| 2024 | 110.3 | 112.9 |
Utilities
- Salem, OR
- Bellingham, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salem, OR | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.1 | 75.7 |
| 2009 | 94.6 | 79.0 |
| 2010 | 87.3 | 85.9 |
| 2011 | 93.9 | 88.4 |
| 2012 | 97.5 | 89.5 |
| 2013 | 90.3 | 86.9 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 88.2 |
| 2015 | 104.2 | 90.8 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 86.6 |
| 2017 | 97.7 | 82.2 |
| 2018 | 92.1 | 89.0 |
| 2019 | 95.5 | 91.7 |
| 2020 | 94.9 | 91.9 |
| 2021 | 96.0 | 92.1 |
| 2022 | 89.8 | 86.7 |
| 2023 | 90.1 | 86.9 |
| 2024 | 104.7 | 99.9 |
Other services
- Salem, OR
- Bellingham, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salem, OR | Bellingham, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.2 | 98.3 |
| 2009 | 99.4 | 101.1 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 100.2 |
| 2011 | 99.6 | 103.5 |
| 2012 | 102.7 | 102.6 |
| 2013 | 102.6 | 101.9 |
| 2014 | 99.1 | 102.6 |
| 2015 | 102.2 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 100.9 |
| 2017 | 100.0 | 101.1 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 101.6 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 100.7 |
| 2021 | 99.1 | 98.8 |
| 2022 | 104.5 | 103.8 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 102.6 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 99.5 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,951 in Bellingham vs $1,646 in Salem
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Salem, OR
- 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
| Salem, OR | Bellingham, WA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $840 | $958 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $870 | $990 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $909 | $1,020 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $919 | $1,009 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $946 | $1,030 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $978 | $1,053 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,012 | $1,080 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,012 | $1,084 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,047 | $1,114 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,073 | $1,138 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,086 | $1,173 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,081 | $1,168 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,106 | $1,217 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,120 | $1,235 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,145 | $1,259 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,133 | $1,266 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,152 | $1,308 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,176 | $1,327 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,190 | $1,325 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,174 | $1,310 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,208 | $1,415 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,211 | $1,399 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,238 | $1,393 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,257 | $1,408 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,291 | $1,487 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,339 | $1,525 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,405 | $1,578 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,418 | $1,635 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,438 | $1,653 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,509 | $1,727 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,570 | $1,730 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,553 | $1,735 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,566 | $1,791 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,575 | $1,806 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,600 | $1,823 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,592 | $1,804 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,583 | $1,848 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,601 | $1,862 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,624 | $1,863 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,611 | $1,864 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,614 | $1,899 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,639 | $1,937 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,648 | $1,896 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,634 | $1,879 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,633 | $1,948 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,640 | $1,960 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,646 | $1,951 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $608,000 in Bellingham vs $447,000 in Salem
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Salem, OR
- 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
| Salem, OR | Bellingham, WA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $199K | $271K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $203K | $277K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $209K | $282K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $216K | $288K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $223K | $296K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $229K | $302K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $236K | $308K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $244K | $316K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $250K | $324K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $258K | $333K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $265K | $343K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $271K | $351K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $280K | $359K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $288K | $371K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $296K | $381K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $301K | $385K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $306K | $390K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $310K | $396K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $312K | $402K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $316K | $411K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $324K | $423K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $328K | $429K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $334K | $440K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $350K | $462K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $371K | $486K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $389K | $519K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $403K | $538K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $414K | $548K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $431K | $579K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $447K | $607K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $443K | $594K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $436K | $578K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $433K | $570K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $434K | $577K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $438K | $582K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $438K | $584K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $441K | $585K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $444K | $594K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $444K | $601K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $446K | $609K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $447K | $611K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $445K | $607K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $445K | $606K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $448K | $612K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $449K | $615K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $447K | $609K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $447K | $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.