How much rent can you afford in Federal Way, WA?
Run your salary against Federal Way's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Federal Way
At a median rent of $1,935/mo, Federal Way is affordable when measured against Federal Way median household income of $86,909/yr. Rent would consume roughly 27% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $77,400 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Federal Way compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Federal Way?
On a $86,909 salary (the Federal Way median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $2,173/mo. Federal Way's median rent is $1,935/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Federal Way?
To keep Federal Way's $1,935/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $77,400/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Federal Way affordable on the median Washington income?
Federal Way is affordable on a $86,909 income. Rent would take 27% of pre-tax pay, inside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".