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Rental Market Trends in Bellingham, WA

What is the average rent in Bellingham, WA?

$1,555/month

Average Rent

610 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+1.9%

Increase in the Last Year

As of March 2026, the average rent in Bellingham, WA is $1,555 per month. For comparison, the national average rent price in the US is currently $1,626/month, which means Bellingham rent prices are 4% lower than the national average. When you rent an apartment in Bellingham, you can expect to pay about $1,387 per month for a studio, $1,555 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,872 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $2,342 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,387/month
440 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,555/month
610 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,872/month
902 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,342/month
1,154 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,052/month
826 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,912/month
1,440 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$4,554/month
768 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,249/month
865 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Bellingham, WA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 1.9%, which averages out to $30 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated March 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Bellingham, WA
Last Updated March 2026
$1,501 - $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Bellingham, WA
Percentage*
Rent Range
1% Below $700/month
3% $700 - $1,000/month
24% $1,001 - $1,500/month
51% $1,501 - $2,000/month
22% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Bellingham?

Based on current rent prices, Samish Hill, Happy Valley and South Hill are the most affordable neighborhoods in Bellingham.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Samish Hill
$1,604/month
594 Sq Ft
Happy Valley
$1,606/month
588 Sq Ft
South Hill
$1,649/month
592 Sq Ft
Downtown Bellingham
$1,780/month
646 Sq Ft
North Bellingham
$1,816/month
641 Sq Ft
Fairhaven
$1,935/month
629 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Bellingham?

Based on current rent prices, Fairhaven, North Bellingham and Downtown Bellingham are the most expensive neighborhoods in Bellingham.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Fairhaven
$1,935/month
629 Sq Ft
North Bellingham
$1,816/month
641 Sq Ft
Downtown Bellingham
$1,780/month
646 Sq Ft
South Hill
$1,649/month
592 Sq Ft
Happy Valley
$1,606/month
588 Sq Ft
Samish Hill
$1,604/month
594 Sq Ft

Which Bellingham neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Bellingham with the most apartments available are North Bellingham, Samish Hill and Happy Valley .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
North Bellingham
$1,816/month
641 Sq Ft
Samish Hill
$1,604/month
594 Sq Ft
Happy Valley
$1,606/month
588 Sq Ft
Fairhaven
$1,935/month
629 Sq Ft
South Hill
$1,649/month
592 Sq Ft
Downtown Bellingham
$1,780/month
646 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Bellingham, WA?

Because the average rent in Bellingham is $1,555, you’ll want to make about $5,183 per month or $62,196 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Bellingham, WA is 22.6% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Bellingham is 38.7% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,387 - $2,342. You can expect to pay 6.8% more for groceries, 5.6% more for utilities, and 21.4% more for transportation.

City

Bellingham, WA

969 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Bellingham, WA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Bellingham, WA to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for Bellingham, WA

Apartment Averages

Samish Hill

Bellingham, WA

Fairhaven

Bellingham, WA

Studio
$1,399/month
$1,562/month
One Bedroom
$1,543/month
$1,924/month
Two Bedroom
$1,755/month
$2,463/month
Three Bedroom
$2,372/month
$3,140/month
Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Ferndale Average Rent
  • Lynden Average Rent

Apartment communities in Bellingham we think you'll love

Park Place Apartments

Park Place Apartments

3928 Northwest Ave,
Bellingham, WA 98226

$1,695 - $2,470

Studio - 2 Beds

Sehome Court Apartments

Sehome Court Apartments

820 32nd St,
Bellingham, WA 98225

$1,775 - $1,895

2 Beds

Kerf Apartments

Kerf Apartments

208 N Samish Way,
Bellingham, WA 98225

$1,515 - $2,655

Studio - 2 Beds

Tull Road Townhomes

Tull Road Townhomes

200 Tull Pl,
Bellingham, WA 98226

$2,395 - $2,695

3 Beds

Property Management Companies in Bellingham, WA

PTLA Real Estate Group
PTLA Real Estate Group
  • 34

    Communities

  • 2,300

    Units

  • 9

    Cities

14 Communities in Bellingham
Landmark Real Estate Management
Landmark Real Estate Management
  • 16

    Communities

  • 566

    Units

  • 4

    Cities

12 Communities in Bellingham
Yugo
Yugo
  • 51

    Communities

  • 10,995

    Units

  • 41

    Cities

1 Community in Bellingham
Inland Group
Inland Group
  • 36

    Communities

  • 5,820

    Units

  • 33

    Cities

1 Community in Bellingham
Coast Property Management
Coast Property Management
  • 61

    Communities

  • 7,033

    Units

  • 31

    Cities

1 Community in Bellingham
11Residential
11Residential
  • 25

    Communities

  • 2,576

    Units

  • 20

    Cities

1 Community in Bellingham
Devco Residential Group
Devco Residential Group
  • 35

    Communities

  • 8,947

    Units

  • 16

    Cities

1 Community in Bellingham
Indigo Real Estate Services
Indigo Real Estate Services
  • 21

    Communities

  • 3,677

    Units

  • 16

    Cities

1 Community in Bellingham

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United States Washington Bellingham Rental Trends

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity