Bellevue vs Cary
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bellevue
Cary
The Verdict
Cary is 49.1% less expensive than Bellevue overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bellevue would need approximately $50,316 in Cary 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 Bellevue has the same purchasing power as $50,316 in Cary.
Conversely, $75,000 in Cary equals $111,792 in Bellevue.
Living in Bellevue vs Cary
Housing Costs
Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Cary's 152, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $500,000. The $801,000 difference in home prices means roughly $52,068 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,850/mo in Cary, a monthly difference of $675.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 101 in Cary. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $480/month in Cary. Cary offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 97 in Cary. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue vs $388 in Cary. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 120 in Bellevue and 113 in Cary. 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 $169,200 in Bellevue and $117,400 in Cary. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $110,755 respectively. Cary residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,948/month to housing in Bellevue vs $2,739/month in Cary. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/mo fits within this budget. In Cary, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 97 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases