Bellevue vs Duluth
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bellevue
Duluth
The Verdict
Living in Duluth costs 85.9% less than Bellevue. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Bellevue, you would need $40,348 in Duluth.
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 $40,348 in Duluth.
Conversely, $75,000 in Duluth equals $139,412 in Bellevue.
Living in Bellevue vs Duluth
Housing Costs
Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Duluth's 88, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $268,000. The $1.0M difference in home prices means roughly $67,140 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,025/mo in Duluth, a monthly difference of $1,500.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 99 in Duluth. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $470/month in Duluth. Duluth offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 94 in Duluth. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue vs $376 in Duluth. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 120 in Bellevue and 123 in Duluth. 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 $68,800 in Duluth. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $80,941 respectively. Bellevue residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,948/month to housing in Bellevue vs $1,605/month in Duluth. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/mo fits within this budget. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 161 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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