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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Seatac, WA is $1,968. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Seatac cheaper than other Washington cities?

Seatac falls in the middle range for Washington, ranking #68 out of 110 cities at $1,968/mo.

When was Seatac rent data last updated?

Seatac 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

Seatac

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

Pop. 32,414·68th most expensive in Washington·Rental market data updated monthly for Seatac, WA

Median rent (all units)

$1,968/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.7%

Month-over-Month

-0.1%

vs US Median

+$3

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Seatac · $1,968

More expensive than 57% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

56/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% below what Seatac's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,968/mo

Expected by trend

$2,033/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,504

1 BR

$1,550

2 BR

$1,807

3 BR

$2,389

4 BR+

$2,782

Research median

$1,807/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

$23,616/yr

At $1,968/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.7% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Seatac, WA is roughly split between renters and owners, 26.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

32,414

Median income

$81,104

Median age

36.8

Renters

53.5%

Age distribution

22.5%

24.6%

28.7%

12.8%

Under 1822.5%

18–3424.6%

35–5428.7%

55–6411.3%

65+12.8%

Gender

55.2%

44.8%

Male55.2%

Female44.8%

Race & ethnicity

28.7%

24.6%

22.8%

17.4%

White28.7%

Black24.6%

Hispanic22.8%

Asian17.4%

Other6.5%

Education (25+)

16.1%

28%

29.5%

26.4%

No HS diploma16.1%

HS diploma28%

Some college29.5%

Bachelor's+26.4%

Housing tenure

46.5%

53.5%

Owner46.5%

Renter53.5%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Seatac, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,679 → $1,968

up 17.2%

Income

$73,540 → $81,104

up 10.3%

Population

30,867 → 32,414

up 5.0%

Renter share

50.9% → 53.5%

+2.6 pts

Bachelor's+

24% → 26.4%

+2.4 pts

Median age

36.1 → 36.8

+0.7 yrs

The median rent in Seatac, WA stood at $1,679 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,968, reflecting a 17.2% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $73,540 to $81,104 between 2021 and 2024, a 10.3% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 5.0% since 2021, moving from about 30,867 residents to roughly 32,414. Renters now make up 53.5% of households, compared with 50.9% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 26.4% of adults here, versus 24% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Seatac, 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 Seatac

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View Seatac rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Seatac on your salary?

At $1,968/mo, how Seatac rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 22.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 31.4% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 27.3% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 15.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 11.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 33.6% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 37.2% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 30.2% income

stretched

By apartment size

Seatac rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Seatac

About renting in Seatac, WA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Seatac is $1,968/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,504/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,807/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,550/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,389/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($81,104/yr), Seatac ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Seatac an affordable city for renters?

Seatac is considered affordable for renters. At $1,968/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($81,104/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Seatac falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Seatac?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $79,000/year (~$38/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,968/mo in Seatac. The local median household income is $81,104/yr, meaning the typical Seatac household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Seatac?

Rent in Seatac has increased 4.7% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Seatac neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Seatac are 98188 ($1,924/mo), and 98168 ($1,960/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Seatac is $1,968/mo.

How does Seatac rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Seatac is middle-of-the-pack for Washington for rent, ranking #68 out of 110 tracked cities at $1,968/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Seatac?

Burien is nearby and more affordable at $1,896/mo, which is $72 less than Seatac.

What percentage of Seatac residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 53.5% of Seatac households are renters, while 46.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Seatac has a strong rental market.

How does Seatac rent compare to the national average?

Seatac's median rent of $1,968/mo is $3 (0%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Washington, it ranks #68 out of 110 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

29%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,968/mo, rent takes ~29% of Seatac's median household income ($81,104/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Seatac 29%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Seatac affordability calculator →

Nearby cities