City Comparison

Alexandria vs Bellevue

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Bellevue

Washington
158
Very Expensive
$1.3M
Median Home
$2,525/mo
Median Rent
$169,200
Median Income

The Verdict

8.2%

Alexandria is 8.2% less expensive than Bellevue overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $81,724 in Bellevue to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
249
Bellevue
Groceries
113
Alexandria
111
Bellevue
Utilities
97
Alexandria
100
Bellevue
Transportation
107
Alexandria
134
Bellevue
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
120
Bellevue

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $81,724 in Bellevue.

Conversely, $75,000 in Bellevue equals $68,829 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Bellevue

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is lower Bellevue's 249, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $1.3M. The $711,000 difference in home prices means roughly $46,212 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $2,525/mo in Bellevue, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 111 in Bellevue. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $527/month in Bellevue. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 100 in Bellevue. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $400 in Bellevue. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 120 in Bellevue. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $169,200 in Bellevue. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 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 $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $3,948/month in Bellevue. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. 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 48 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Alexandria is 8.2% more affordable overall with an index of 145 vs 158.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $81,724 in Bellevue, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Bellevue's is 249 with median homes at $1.3M.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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