Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on September 13, 2026
Average rent in
Bellingham, WA
Average rent in
Last updated on September 13, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
Bellingham, WA rent slipped 5.2% year over year, with a current median of $1,795/month. Renters today are paying $151 less per month on average than last year, while month-to-month rent is essentially unchanged.
Compared to national trends
Bellingham is 5.5% more affordable than the $1,900/month national median, with 326 total rentals providing a modest-sized market for renters.
Price ranges
Studios in Bellingham rent for $1,415/month, 1-bedrooms for $1,610/month, and 2-bedrooms for $1,825/month. Rents increase with unit size, reaching $3,200/month for 4+ bedrooms.
Neighborhood spotlight
The York neighborhood saw rents climb 48.6% year over year to $2,973/month. This rise contrasts with the citywide decline and marks York as a local hotspot in Bellingham, WA.
Median rent
Median rent in Bellingham
$1,795/mo
5%vs previous year
The average rent in Bellingham is $1,795 per month as of September 2026. This is 6% below the national average rent, or $105 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Bellingham
326
for rent on Zumper.com as of September 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of Bellingham rentals at each price point
Rent trends in Bellingham, WA
Average rent prices in Bellingham have remained the same over the last month and have decreased by 5% since last year.
Rent trends
Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.
Compare rent prices in
Bellingham, WA
Rent prices in Bellingham vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Bellingham is $1,720, whereas a house costs $2,697. 1-bedroom apartments in Bellingham run $1,625 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $1,799.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,415 | 1% |  6% | |
1 bedroom | $1,610 | 2% | 3% | |
2 bedroom | $1,825 | No Change | 3% | |
3 bedroom | $2,395 | 3% | 4% | |
4 bedroom | $3,200 | 2% | 7% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Birchwoods | $1,600 | |
Central Business District | $1,650 | |
Fairhaven | $2,195 | |
Guide Meridian | $1,750 | |
Happy Valley | $1,697 | |
Lettered Streets | $1,737 | |
Meridian | $1,675 | |
Mount Baker | $1,852 | |
Roosevelt | $1,850 | |
Sehome | $1,862 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $1,720 | 1% | No Change | |
Condos | $1,935 | 3% | No Change | |
Houses | $2,697 | 3% | No Change |
Studio
Average rent
$1,415
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
6%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$1,610
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
3%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$1,825
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
3%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$2,395
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
4%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$3,200
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
7%
Sehome
Average rent
$1,862
Guide Meridian
Average rent
$1,750
Central Business District
Average rent
$1,650
Meridian
Average rent
$1,675
Happy Valley
Average rent
$1,697
Lettered Streets
Average rent
$1,737
Roosevelt
Average rent
$1,850
Birchwoods
Average rent
$1,600
Mount Baker
Average rent
$1,852
Fairhaven
Average rent
$2,195
Apartments
Average rent
$1,720
Last 30 days
1%
Condos
Average rent
$1,935
Last 30 days
3%
Houses
Average rent
$2,697
Last 30 days
3%
The table above reflects average rent prices in Bellingham, WA, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.
How does rent in Bellingham, WA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in Bellingham and Anacortes by all bedroom counts and property types.
Bellingham
6%lower than the national median
51%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Bellingham, WA is 38% lower than the median rent in Anacortes, WA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$2,875
2%$2,400
3%$1,875
5%$2,300
12%$1,997
5%$1,946
3%$1,700
40%$1,750
9%$2,968
10%$2,047
$2,600
13%$2,600
5%Cost of living in Bellingham, WA
Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.
Expenses accrued by most renters | Average cost compared to national average |
|---|---|
| Goods & Services | 23% higher |
| Groceries | 8% higher |
| Health | 6% higher |
| Housing | 38% higher |
| Transportation | 22% higher |
| Utilities | 5% higher |
Discover rentals in Bellingham, WA
5d+ ago
Guide Meridian condo for rent in Bellingham
0000 E Horton Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226
1 bed
1 bath
$700
Condo for rent
Available Aug 15
1d ago
1124 N Forest St, Bellingham, WA 98225
1 bed
2 baths
$780–$825
Apartment for rent
1d ago
1254 Franklin St, Bellingham, WA 98225
1 bed
1 bath
$800
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
2500 Samish Way, Bellingham, WA 98229
1 bed
1 bath
$800–$1,700
Apartment for rent
1d ago
3815 Elwood Ave, Bellingham, WA 98229
Studio–4 beds
1–2 baths
$1,095–$3,740
Apartment for rent
Available Sep 12
22h ago
1404 11th St, Bellingham, WA 98225
2 beds
2 baths
$2,750–$3,575
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Columbia house for rent in Bellingham
2 beds
2 baths
$3,395
House for rent
2d ago
1203 W Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225
2 beds
2 baths
$3,295
Apartment for rent
21h ago
1440 10th St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$1,595–$2,495
Apartment for rent
1d ago
1818 D St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Studio
1 bath
$1,395–$1,500
Apartment for rent
1d ago
490 S State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,695–$2,395
Apartment for rent
1d ago
1471 Moore St, Bellingham, WA 98229
3 beds
2 baths
$1,895
Apartment for rent
1d ago
2170 Douglas Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
3–4 beds
2 baths
$1,995–$2,295
Apartment for rent
2d ago
1016 N Garden St, Bellingham, WA 98225
3 beds
1 bath
$1,999
Apartment for rent
2d ago
1211 Jersey St, Bellingham, WA 98225
1–2 beds
1 bath
$1,750–$1,850
Apartment for rent
2d ago
2305 Douglas Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
4 beds
4 baths
$2,600–$3,180
Apartment for rent
1d ago
2170 Douglas Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
3–4 beds
2 baths
$1,995–$2,295
Apartment for rent
1d ago
1471 Moore St, Bellingham, WA 98229
3 beds
2 baths
$1,895
Apartment for rent
1d ago
1401 E Sunset Dr, Bellingham, WA 98226
1 bed
1 bath
$1,425
Apartment for rent
2d ago
2305 Douglas Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
4 beds
4 baths
$2,600–$3,180
Apartment for rent
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Frequently asked questions for Bellingham, WA
Quick answers to common questions about the Bellingham rental market.
How much is rent in Bellingham?
The average rent in Bellingham is $1,795 per month as of September 12, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Bellingham?
Average rent prices in Bellingham have remained the same over the last month and have decreased by 5% since last year.
How does Bellingham rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Bellingham is 6% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $105 less per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Bellingham?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Bellingham are Birchwoods ($1,600/mo), Central Business District ($1,650/mo), and Meridian ($1,675/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in Bellingham?
To comfortably afford rent in Bellingham, you'd need to earn approximately $72,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in Bellingham?
December offers the best rental deals in Bellingham, with rents running about 12% lower than March peak prices. November and December are also the least competitive months with lower demand.
Methodology
Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.
Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).