Uprootmap
Bellingham vs Olympia
Bellingham and Olympia
Photo: Piper, Walter F / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Olympia are under the US rate in this release, 2.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Bellingham to Olympia
In 2022-2023, 82 households filed a move from Bellingham to Olympia (about 118 people, average adjusted gross income $49,024). 115 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,471 in Bellingham and $1,552 in Olympia. Bellingham has no state tax on wages. Olympia has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Olympia is 105% of the national level for the same work, against 94% in Bellingham.
Olympia averages 156 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 35°F. Bellingham is 131 sunny days, 75°F in July, 27°F in January. Commutes average 26 minutes in Olympia and 22 in Bellingham.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 82 households moved Bellingham → Olympia (about 118 people, average AGI $49,024). 115 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Bellingham and Olympia changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 167 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,200
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,150
- Rent a truck
- $450–$800
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Dig into Olympia
Questions
Is Olympia cheaper than Bellingham after tax and rent?
No. Olympia leaves about $72 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,471 in Bellingham and $1,552 in Olympia.
Does Olympia have state income tax?
Olympia is in Washington, which has no state income tax.
Did people actually move from Bellingham to Olympia?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.