How much does it cost to rent in Bellevue, WA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Bellevue, WA is $2,796. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Bellevue cheaper than other Washington cities?

Bellevue is one of the pricier cities in Washington, ranking #11 out of 110 cities tracked at $2,796/mo.

When was Bellevue rent data last updated?

Bellevue rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · WA

Bellevue

Name: Average Rent Prices in Bellevue, WA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 151,847·11th most expensive in Washington·Bellevue rents are up 7.4% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,796/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.4%

Month-over-Month

+2.0%

vs US Median

+$831

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Bellevue · $2,796

More expensive than 87% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

51/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Bellevue's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$2,796/mo

Expected by trend

$2,814/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

$2,152

1 BR

$2,205

2 BR

$2,568

3 BR

$3,385

4 BR+

$3,945

Research median

$2,568/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$33,552/yr

At $2,796/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.4% YoY, +2.0% 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

$2,091 → $2,796

up 33.7%

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 $2,091 to $2,796, a 33.7% 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 $2,796/mo, how Bellevue rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 31.7% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 44.7% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 38.8% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 21.7% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 17% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 47.7% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 52.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 42.9% 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: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Bellevue is $2,796/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,152/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,568/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,205/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,385/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 7.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Bellevue an affordable city for renters?

Bellevue is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,796/mo, rent takes approximately 20% of the local median household income ($165,576/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Bellevue falls comfortably within that range.

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 $112,000/year (~$54/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,796/mo in Bellevue. The local median household income is $165,576/yr, meaning the typical Bellevue household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Bellevue?

Rent in Bellevue has increased 7.4% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Bellevue neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Bellevue are 98007 ($2,415/mo), 98005 ($2,593/mo), and 98004 ($2,983/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Bellevue is $2,796/mo.

How does Bellevue rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Bellevue is one of the pricier cities in Washington for rent, ranking #11 out of 110 tracked cities at $2,796/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Bellevue?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Bellevue ($2,796/mo): Newcastle ($2,320/mo), Kirkland ($2,626/mo), Redmond ($2,640/mo).

What percentage of Bellevue residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 48% of Bellevue households are renters, while 52% are owner-occupied. Bellevue leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Bellevue rent compare to the national average?

Bellevue's median rent of $2,796/mo is $831 (42%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Washington, it ranks #11 out of 110 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

20%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,796/mo, rent takes ~20% of Bellevue's median household income ($165,576/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Bellevue 20%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Bellevue affordability calculator →

Nearby cities