Bellevue vs Lowell
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bellevue
Lowell
The Verdict
Lowell is 20.6% less expensive than Bellevue overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bellevue would need approximately $62,184 in Lowell 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 $62,184 in Lowell.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lowell equals $90,458 in Bellevue.
Living in Bellevue vs Lowell
Housing Costs
Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Lowell's 152, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $429,000. The $872,000 difference in home prices means roughly $56,676 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,925/mo in Lowell, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 104 in Lowell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $494/month in Lowell. Lowell offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 151 in Lowell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue vs $604 in Lowell. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 120 in Bellevue and 118 in Lowell. 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 $79,700 in Lowell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $60,840 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 $1,860/month in Lowell. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/mo fits within this budget. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/mo pushes past the recommended limit. 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
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