Albany vs Bellevue
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Albany
Bellevue
The Verdict
Albany is 37.3% less expensive than Bellevue overall. A household earning $75,000 in Albany would need approximately $119,697 in Bellevue to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Albany has the same purchasing power as $119,697 in Bellevue.
Conversely, $75,000 in Bellevue equals $46,994 in Albany.
Living in Albany vs Bellevue
Housing Costs
Albany's housing index of 93 is lower Bellevue's 249, translating to median home prices of $220,000 vs $1.3M. The $1.1M difference in home prices means roughly $70,260 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Albany compared to $2,525/mo in Bellevue, a monthly difference of $1,325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Albany and 111 in Bellevue. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Albany vs $527/month in Bellevue. Albany offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $504/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 107 in Albany and 100 in Bellevue. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Albany vs $400 in Bellevue. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in Albany and 120 in Bellevue. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $43,098 in Albany and $169,200 in Bellevue. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $43,533 and $107,089 respectively. Bellevue residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,006/month to housing in Albany vs $3,948/month in Bellevue. In Albany, median rent of $1,200/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 156 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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