Uprootmap
Portland vs Bellingham
Portland 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 Portland to Bellingham
In 2022-2023, 252 households filed a move from Portland to Bellingham (about 345 people, average adjusted gross income $70,933). 205 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,416 in Portland and $1,471 in Bellingham. Portland has a 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 Portland.
Bellingham averages 131 sunny days, with July highs around 75°F and January nights around 27°F. Portland is 144 sunny days, 82°F in July, 36°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Bellingham and 26 in Portland.
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, 252 households moved Portland → Bellingham (about 345 people, average AGI $70,933). 205 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 Portland and Bellingham changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 271 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,800–$3,400
- Container or pod
- $1,250–$2,350
- Rent a truck
- $500–$950
Explore more
Dig into Bellingham
Questions
Is Bellingham cheaper than Portland after tax and rent?
Yes. Bellingham leaves about $457 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,416 in Portland 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 Portland 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.