Cost of Living in Bellevue, Washington (2026)
COL Index
148
100 = US avg
1BR Rent
$2,700
per month
Median HHI
$115K
per year
State Tax
None
income tax
Full cost breakdown
| Category | Bellevue |
|---|---|
| 🏠 HousingQ1 2026 | |
| Studio rent/mo | $2,100 |
| 1BR rent/mo | $2,700 |
| 2BR rent/mo | $3,700 |
| Median home price | $900K |
| 🛒 Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | |
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 112 |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $19 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $78 |
| 🚌 TransportationQ1 2026 | |
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $100 |
| Gas price/gal | $4.20 |
| Car insurance/mo | $155 |
| ⚡ UtilitiesQ1 2026 | |
| Utilities bundle (elec + gas + water)/mo | $120 |
| Internet/mo | $68 |
| 💰 Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | |
| Median household income/yr | $115K |
| State income tax rate | 0.0% |
| Sales tax (combined) | 10.2% |
| 📊 OverviewQ1 2026 | |
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 148 |
| Walk score / 100 | 52 |
Is Bellevue affordable on your salary?
How rent burden (1BR) changes across income levels. Under 30% is comfortable; above 40% is tight.
$40K
~$2,728/mo take-home
99% rent burden · Difficult
$50K
~$3,160/mo take-home
85% rent burden · Difficult
$60K
~$3,793/mo take-home
71% rent burden · Difficult
$75K
~$4,741/mo take-home
57% rent burden · Difficult
$80K
~$5,057/mo take-home
53% rent burden · Difficult
$100K
~$6,321/mo take-home
43% rent burden · Tight
$120K
~$7,155/mo take-home
38% rent burden · Tight
$150K
~$8,944/mo take-home
30% rent burden · Manageable
Too expensive? Find cheaper alternatives.
See cities with a lower cost of living than Bellevue.
Compare Bellevue with other cities
Bellevue vs New YorkCompare →Bellevue vs Los AngelesCompare →Bellevue vs ChicagoCompare →Bellevue vs HoustonCompare →
Data: Zillow Observed Rent Index, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, US Census ACS · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only