Here’s how Bellingham’s rents compare to prices in other Washington cities

The cost of renting a place to live seems to have everyone digging deep into their wallets, but how does the cost of renting in Bellingham compare to other cities in Whatcom County and Washington state?

Bellingham’s average rent price for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,260, and $1,825 for a two-bedroom apartment as of Dec. 17. Compared to last month, the average rent decreased for both one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments in Bellingham, according to Zumper, a website with rental postings and information.

Rental prices in Whatcom County and Bellingham have fluctuated throughout recent years, with larger increases in early 2022.

“When the first steep rate increase happened in early 2022, we saw a frenzy of buyers trying to purchase before they lost their opportunity. The combination of those who are waiting out the volatility in the purchase market and those who are now priced out due to higher prices and higher rates has created a huge demand for the rental side,” Keith Ferris and Miranda Lock, Bellingham real estate agents wrote in an email.

The demand for housing in the Bellingham area also rose during the pandemic according to Ferris and Lock, as people relocated to Bellingham “like we hadn’t seen before” and wanted to rent in the city before making the decision to purchase a home.

On Zillow, a website with rental and real estate listings, current Bellingham rental listings as of Dec. 21 range from $900 per month to $6,800 per month.

A recent report from Zumper evaluated cities across Washington state to compare rental prices and price increases. Rental prices can vary based on size, location, parking, if pets are allowed, utilities, appliances and more factors.

Bellingham was ranked as the third least-expensive metro city in Washington to rent in, with an average rent of $1,380 for a one-bedroom apartment.

The least expensive metro city in Washington was Oak Harbor in Island County, followed by Lakewood in Pierce County.

Bellingham was also found to have the largest monthly rental growth rate, increasing 6.2%, followed by Everett and Renton.

The Bellingham Herald also compared the average cost for a 1-bedroom apartment between Bellingham and nearby cities.

In Lynden, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,100, $160 less than Bellingham’s average. Ferndale’s average rent is $1,300, $40 more than Bellingham. The average rent price is $1,200 in Blaine, $60 less than Bellingham.

The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,745 in Burlington, $485 more than Bellingham.