Vancouver and Bellingham share an interesting relationship, and one that has gotten more interesting and complicated as tensions between the two regions have risen over the past couple of years.
In a recent post to the Bellingham subreddit, Bellinghamsters (Bellingham residents) looked at prices between the two regions, discussing things that are cheaper in the respective locales.
Some of the responses were obvious, like how one Bellingham resident noted that an ambulance ride is cheaper in B.C., while in Bellingham (and in many states) you get a bill “that looks like a car payment.”
They claimed that an ambulance trip is only $80 in B.C. That is a true statement, as long as you have MSP coverage. Otherwise, it’s an $848 flat fee, according to BC Emergency Health Services.
One response that might surprise some people — especially those who feel eating out in Vancouver is expensive — said that going out to eat “feels less expensive” in Canada.
Others chimed in saying the quality of food in Vancouver is better, with a better selection to boot.
“Definitely true. Date night in Canada is a must over current prices down here in the USA,” another user said.
Someone else mentioned that Botox and laser treatments are far less expensive in White Rock, Surrey, and Langley than they are around Bellingham.
The next one some may find conflicting, as someone suggested parking in downtown Vancouver is cheaper than in Seattle. Someone claimed they went to a concert and paid $5, adding that it would’ve been $50 in Seattle.
On the flip side, something that someone pointed out was cheaper in Bellingham was real estate. A quick look through some listings for both cities shows that this is also true, which may not come as a surprise.
The drop in B.C. travellers has greatly impacted Bellingham’s economy
Pamela Brick/Shutterstock
Many folks who used to make regular trips down to Bellingham for shopping or leisure purposes no longer do, and the stats prove it.
While the number obviously hasn’t dropped to zero, Bellingham’s economy has taken a hit due to the drop in travellers.
A recent post from Bellingham Metro News suggests that 40 businesses have closed or announced closures in 2026. While owners said there’s no single cause, fewer Canadian customers were one of the several potential causes that businesses have pointed to.
A business owner that the publication spoke to mentioned the long-running jokes about parking lots filled with Canadian cars. We’ve reported on some of those jokes, particularly at businesses like Costco and Trader Joe’s.
But the business owner said that those cars were full of people spending money in Washington.
The publication also mentioned that it has been harder to reach Canadian readers, due to Meta blocking news content on Facebook and Instagram.
Bellingham Metro News states, “It has changed how local news can reach audiences just across the border.”
A Bellingham business report we covered earlier this year also suggested that B.C. and Canada were crucial to its survival, with a vast majority of the Bellingham food and beverage industry saying the decline in Canadian visitors has been damaging.
Are there any things that you’ve found cheaper in Bellingham than in Vancouver? Let us know in the comments.