Overall Score
Bellingham is the largest city and the center of Whatcom County, Washington. With a population of 92,314,000 (2019), it is the 13th largest city in the state and the 5th largest metro area after Seattle – Tacoma, north Portland, Spokane, and the Tri-Cities. The city’s boundaries include the former cities of Fairhaven, Whatcom, Seahome and Bellingham.
The city is known for its convenient location near the popular San Juan Islands and the northern part of the Cascade Mountains and its proximity to cosmopolitan Seattle and Vancouver. Bellingham is also known for the large number of tourists and fence-sitters from Canada who come here daily for relatively cheap fuel, airfare and other goods. Prices for the most popular goods and checks at Bellingham restaurants are among the highest in the United States, but so far often lower than in Canada.
Overall Score
- Air quality: 14 US AQI Good. Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
- Tap water: Yes, safe to drink
- Religious government: Non-religious
- Population: 83,000 people
- GDP: $57,808 / year
- Foreigners can own real estate: Yes
- Power outlets: 115V60Hz
- Internet: 75 Mbps
- Best wireless: Telecom
- Pay without cash: Yes, cards OK almost everywhere
- Tipping: How much should I tip at a restaurant? A gratuity of 15 to 20 per cent on top of the bill (before sales tax) is standard, with 25 per cent given for topnotch service. Servers in America work hard for the money – they’re generally friendly, knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile for customers.
- Apartment listings: Booking
- Apartments: Airbnb
- Hotels: Booking.com
- More hotels: Hotels.com
- Best taxi: Uber
- Best coworking space: Invent
- Online electronics shop: Amazon
- Best short-haul air carrier: Allegiant Airline
- Best intl air carrier: Alaska Airline
- Monthly costs for expat: $2800
- Monthly costs for family: $5700
- Monthly costs for local: $1600
- Meal: $15
- Small Cola: $2.5
- Beer 1 Pint: $7.5
- Coffee: $5
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