Arlington vs Bellevue
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Arlington
Bellevue
The Verdict
Bellevue is 3.8% less expensive than Arlington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Arlington would need approximately $72,256 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 Arlington has the same purchasing power as $72,256 in Bellevue.
Conversely, $75,000 in Bellevue equals $77,848 in Arlington.
Living in Arlington vs Bellevue
Housing Costs
Arlington's housing index of 249 is equal to Bellevue's 249, translating to median home prices of $740,000 vs $1.3M. The $561,000 difference in home prices means roughly $36,468 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,350/mo in Arlington compared to $2,525/mo in Bellevue, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 106 in Arlington and 111 in Bellevue. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Arlington 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 102 in Arlington and 100 in Bellevue. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Arlington vs $400 in Bellevue. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 117 in Arlington and 120 in Bellevue. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $145,000 in Arlington and $169,200 in Bellevue. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $88,415 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 $3,383/month to housing in Arlington vs $3,948/month in Bellevue. In Arlington, median rent of $2,350/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 Transportation, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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