City Report · WA

Bellevue

Pop. 151,847·9th most expensive in Washington·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,759/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

+$827

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Bellevue · $2,759

More expensive than 86% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

57/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% below what Bellevue's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,759/mo

Expected by trend

$2,866/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Bellevue's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,124

1 BR

$2,176

2 BR

$2,534

3 BR

$3,341

4 BR+

$3,892

Research median

$2,534/mo

Bedroom figures are derived from HUD Fair Market Rents and scaled to match Bellevue's market median, because the published HUD values all ran above it. They are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in Bellevue usually run 2.4% below trend in December and 2% above it in July, about $121 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Bellevue is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in Bellevue changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Bellevue rose 25% while median household income rose 37.5% ($120,456 to $165,576). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Bellevue is 25.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($165,576) is $4,139 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,482); a 3-bedroom is $4,590.

Spread across ZIP codes

The priciest of 5 ZIP codes in Bellevue, 98008 ($4,019/mo), costs 1.7 times the cheapest, 98007 ($2,381/mo).

Cheaper nearby

Newcastle, 4 miles away, rents for 11% less ($2,461/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bellevue. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$33,108/yr

At $2,759/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.8% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Bellevue, WA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 72.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

151,847

Median income

$165,576

Median age

38.5

Renters

48%

Age distribution

19.5%

24.8%

29.4%

14.8%

Under 1819.5%

18–3424.8%

35–5429.4%

55–6411.5%

65+14.8%

Gender

50.5%

49.5%

Male50.5%

Female49.5%

Race & ethnicity

41.3%

42.8%

White41.3%

Black2.6%

Hispanic7.9%

Asian42.8%

Other5.4%

Education (25+)

15.6%

72.1%

No HS diploma4.3%

HS diploma8%

Some college15.6%

Bachelor's+72.1%

Housing tenure

52%

48%

Owner52%

Renter48%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Bellevue, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,121 → $2,759

up 30.1%

Income

$140,252 → $165,576

up 18.1%

Population

149,365 → 151,847

up 1.7%

Renter share

47.6% → 48%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

70% → 72.1%

+2.1 pts

Median age

37.9 → 38.5

+0.6 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in Bellevue, WA has increased from $2,121 to $2,759, a 30.1% change over five years. Median household income rose from $140,252 to $165,576 between 2021 and 2024, a 18.1% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.7% since 2021, moving from about 149,365 residents to roughly 151,847. College-educated residents now make up 72.1% of adults here, versus 70% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Bellevue, WA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Bellevue

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View Bellevue rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Bellevue on your salary?

At $2,759/mo, how Bellevue rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 31.3% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 44.1% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 38.3% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 21.4% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 16.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 47.1% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 52.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 42.3% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Bellevue rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Bellevue. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Bellevue

About renting in Bellevue, WA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Bellevue is $2,759/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,124/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,534/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,176/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,341/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($165,576/yr), Bellevue ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Bellevue?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $110,000/year (about $53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,759/mo in Bellevue. The local median household income is $165,576/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Bellevue?

Rent in Bellevue has risen 1.8% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Bellevue?

Asking rents in Bellevue are usually lowest in December, about 2.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $121 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Bellevue?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Bellevue rose 25% while median household income rose 37.5%, from $120,456 to $165,576. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which Bellevue neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Bellevue are 98007 ($2,381/mo), 98005 ($2,601/mo), and 98004 ($2,932/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $2,759/mo.

How does Bellevue rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Bellevue is one of the pricier among Washington cities for rent, ranking #9 of 109 tracked cities at $2,759/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Bellevue changed +1.8%, against a typical +2.6% across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks.