Uprootmap
Olympia vs Bellingham
Olympia and Bellingham
Photo: Robert Ashworth / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Bellingham are under the US rate in this release, 2.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Olympia to Bellingham
In 2022-2023, 115 households filed a move from Olympia to Bellingham (about 165 people, average adjusted gross income $94,939). 82 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,552 in Olympia and $1,471 in Bellingham. Olympia has no state tax on wages. Bellingham has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Bellingham is 94% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Olympia.
Bellingham averages 131 sunny days, with July highs around 75°F and January nights around 27°F. Olympia is 156 sunny days, 82°F in July, 35°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Bellingham and 26 in Olympia.
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, 115 households moved Olympia → Bellingham (about 165 people, average AGI $94,939). 82 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 Olympia and Bellingham 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
Explore more
Dig into Bellingham
Questions
Is Bellingham cheaper than Olympia after tax and rent?
Yes. Bellingham leaves about $72 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,552 in Olympia and $1,471 in Bellingham.
Does Bellingham have state income tax?
Bellingham is in Washington, which has no state income tax.
Did people actually move from Olympia to Bellingham?
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.