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Rental Market Trends in Bellingham, WA

What is the average rent in Bellingham, WA?

$1,571/month

Average Rent

613 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+1.3%

Increase in the Last Year

Bellingham, WA Rental Market Overview

The average rent in Bellingham, WA is $1,571 per month. For comparison, the national average rent price in the US is currently $1,644/month, which means Bellingham rent prices are 4% lower than the national average.

  • Studio apartments in Bellingham average $1,391 per month.
  • One-bedroom apartments in Bellingham average $1,571 per month.
  • Two-bedroom apartments in Bellingham average $1,893 per month.
  • Three-bedroom apartments in Bellingham average $2,354 or more per month.

Data Updated: June, 2026

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,391/month
442 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,571/month
613 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,893/month
902 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,354/month
1,167 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,798/month
577 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,215/month
894 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,909/month
1,235 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$3,861/month
1,663 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,555/month
514 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,107/month
946 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 1.3%, which averages out to $21 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 June 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Bellingham, WA
Last Updated June 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
23% $1,001 - $1,500/month
50% $1,501 - $2,000/month
23% 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
$1,590/month
601 Sq Ft
Happy Valley
$1,599/month
587 Sq Ft
South Hill
$1,666/month
631 Sq Ft
Downtown Bellingham
$1,808/month
675 Sq Ft
North Bellingham
$1,814/month
634 Sq Ft
Fairhaven
$1,899/month
678 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
$1,899/month
678 Sq Ft
North Bellingham
$1,814/month
634 Sq Ft
Downtown Bellingham
$1,808/month
675 Sq Ft
South Hill
$1,666/month
631 Sq Ft
Happy Valley
$1,599/month
587 Sq Ft
Samish Hill
$1,590/month
601 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
$1,814/month
634 Sq Ft
Samish Hill
$1,590/month
601 Sq Ft
Happy Valley
$1,599/month
587 Sq Ft
South Hill
$1,666/month
631 Sq Ft
Fairhaven
$1,899/month
678 Sq Ft
Downtown Bellingham
$1,808/month
675 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 $1,571, you’ll want to make about $5,236 per month or $62,832 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 $1,391 - $2,354. You can expect to pay 6.8% more for groceries, 5.6% more for utilities, and 21.4% more for transportation.

City

Bellingham, WA

773 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
$1,441/month
$1,468/month
One Bedroom
$1,594/month
$1,935/month
Two Bedroom
$1,813/month
$2,491/month
Three Bedroom
$2,396/month
$3,118/month
Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Ferndale Average Rent

Apartment communities in Bellingham we think you'll love

Park Place Apartments

Park Place Apartments

3928 Northwest Ave,
Bellingham, WA 98226

$1,595 - $2,470

Studio - 2 Beds

Ironworks at Old Town

Ironworks at Old Town

711 Astor St,
Bellingham, WA 98225

$1,450 - $2,475

Studio - 2 Beds

The Meadows at June Road

The Meadows at June Road

4355 Fuchsia Dr,
Bellingham, WA 98226

$1,550 - $2,200

Studio - 3 Beds

Sehome Court Apartments

Sehome Court Apartments

820 32nd St,
Bellingham, WA 98225

$1,850 - $1,895

2 Beds

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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 June 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity