Bellevue, WA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Bellevue, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Bellevue →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 150,606 people call Bellevue, Washington home. Household income runs $149,551 at the median, above what we see across the broader set of cities (+107%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to Bellevue. The median home value sits at $1,139,500 (above the multi-city median at +249%), while renters pay a median of $2,422 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Bellevue's home-price-to-income ratio of about 7.6× signals a meaningfully stretched housing market relative to local incomes. The local housing market has held steady, with prices up only 0.89% over the past year. Bellevue carries a Very High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $2,422/mo in Bellevue would take 19.4% of your income.
$1,317/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($1,139,500) would take 48.8% of your income toward principal & interest.
$2,594/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Bellevue
Median home value is $1,139,500 and median gross rent is $2,422/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for King rose 0.89% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,501/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Bellevue's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Bellevue reported a violent crime rate of 113.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Bellevue
Planning a move to Bellevue? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Bellevue, WA?
- In Bellevue, the median home value is $1,139,500 and median rent is $2,422 per month, against a median household income of $149,551. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bellevue?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Bellevue's median rent of $2,422/month takes an income of roughly $96,880 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Bellevue.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Bellevue?
- In Bellevue, comfortably renting the median unit ($2,422/month) takes about $96,880 in annual income, while buying the median home ($1,139,500) takes roughly $260,712 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).
- Is Bellevue safe?
- In 2025, Bellevue reported 113.5 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data.
See the full salary breakdown for Bellevue →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Bellevue's.