Never imagined that Tacoma and Everett are actually cheaper to live in than Bellingham. (Seattle: condo)

[beenhereandthere]

Well per this research (Sterling's), Bellingham is more expensive.

A salary of $50,000 in Tacoma, Washington should increase to $57,484 in Bellingham, Washington

Cost of Living Indexes Tacoma Bellingham
Overall 112.9 129.8
Food 100.7 109.4
Housing 121.5 176.7
Utilities 102.9 77.4
Transportation 106.9 115.1
Health 110.1 112.5
Miscellaneous 116 106.6
100=national average

COMPARISON HIGHLIGHTS
Bellingham is 15% more expensive than Tacoma.
Housing is the biggest factor in the cost of living difference.
Housing is 45% more expensive in Bellingham.

A salary of $50,000 in Everett, Washington should increase to $52,636 in Bellingham, Washington

Cost of Living Indexes Everett Bellingham
Overall 123.3 129.8
Food 107.9 109.4
Housing 155.7 176.7
Utilities 89.5 77.4
Transportation 109.3 115.1
Health 128.9 112.5
Miscellaneous 104.5 106.6
100=national average


But unlike, Everett and Tacoma, which are doable commutes, to Seattle and East King County, particulary Everett, Bellingham isn't and salaries, I hear, in Whatcom and Skagit are poor compared to Seattle and the East Side and so and so compared even to Tacoma and Everett. Everett at least has Boeing and Tacoma, has options for good paying jobs in King County or for the State in Olympia.

What gives? Seems when I lived up there, there wasn't really any above average paying work except for WWU, The Ferndale Refinery or the Border Patrol. It was a little cheaper than Tacoma then (6 years ago), but now, with jobs that seem to be around 12 to 13 an hour on average, that's how poverty starts. What can change this in Bham?

[CrazyDonkey]

A lot of people/families are moving there due to the merits of the city/area. There is also investment money coming down from Canada. Demand has spiked up, while supply is constrained. Prices are also going up in Tacoma and Everett, just not as fast as in Bellingham.

[Ruth4Truth]

Bellingham has become a retirement haven, so those people moving in from all over the US don't need jobs. Also, climate refugees from the drought in CA and the harsh NE winters (harsher than usual the last 2 years) are moving in, as well. And you might be surprised how many people these days work from home by computer, so some of the family people moving in don't need jobs, either; they bring their jobs with them.

[Sockeye66]

I had moved to B'ham in '95 and was shocked at the housing costs and did find data showing higher than Tacoma at the time.

Another factor is it's a college town.

[waviking24]

Low crime(violent anways). Mild weather. Good schools. Definitely lacking in the well paying jobs area though. That's why a lot of people from here choose to buy out in the county.

[west seattle gal]

Originally Posted by beenhereandthere

Well per this research (Sterling's), Bellingham is more expensive.

A salary of $50,000 in Tacoma, Washington should increase to $57,484 in Bellingham, Washington

Cost of Living Indexes Tacoma Bellingham
Overall 112.9 129.8
Food 100.7 109.4
Housing 121.5 176.7
Utilities 102.9 77.4
Transportation 106.9 115.1
Health 110.1 112.5
Miscellaneous 116 106.6
100=national average

COMPARISON HIGHLIGHTS
Bellingham is 15% more expensive than Tacoma.
Housing is the biggest factor in the cost of living difference.
Housing is 45% more expensive in Bellingham.

A salary of $50,000 in Everett, Washington should increase to $52,636 in Bellingham, Washington

Cost of Living Indexes Everett Bellingham
Overall 123.3 129.8
Food 107.9 109.4
Housing 155.7 176.7
Utilities 89.5 77.4
Transportation 109.3 115.1
Health 128.9 112.5
Miscellaneous 104.5 106.6
100=national average


But unlike, Everett and Tacoma, which are doable commutes, to Seattle and East King County, particulary Everett, Bellingham isn't and salaries, I hear, in Whatcom and Skagit are poor compared to Seattle and the East Side and so and so compared even to Tacoma and Everett. Everett at least has Boeing and Tacoma, has options for good paying jobs in King County or for the State in Olympia.

What gives? Seems when I lived up there, there wasn't really any above average paying work except for WWU, The Ferndale Refinery or the Border Patrol. It was a little cheaper than Tacoma then (6 years ago), but now, with jobs that seem to be around 12 to 13 an hour on average, that's how poverty starts. What can change this in Bham?

Demand has led to skyrocketing housing costs in Bham even though there is no economy. Lots of million dollar homes. We need tech in the worst way, but we also fear another Microsoft moving here because it would screw up the roads, clearcut the beautiful vegetation, fill the downtown with ugly condo highrises, and push out small/local businesses

[Hemlock140]

A friend from CA built a custom home on Lake Whatcom about 10 years ago, when he retired. He and his wife found the weather miserable, despite a few inches less rain than Seattle, and they moved after just a year. That home is now worth 1.2 million. While Sequim is the popular retirement place for Californians, Bellingham seems to appeal more to people with money coming from places with worse weather.