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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Seattle, WA is $2,224. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Seattle cheaper than other Washington cities?

Seattle falls in the middle range for Washington, ranking #40 out of 110 cities at $2,224/mo.

When was Seattle rent data last updated?

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

Igor Shalyminov / Unsplash

City Report · WA

Seattle

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

Pop. 754,195·40th most expensive in Washington·Rental market data updated monthly for Seattle, WA

Median rent (all units)

$2,224/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.7%

Month-over-Month

+1.3%

vs US Median

+$259

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Seattle · $2,224

More expensive than 70% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

55/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

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

Actual rent

$2,224/mo

Expected by trend

$2,282/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,710

1 BR

$1,753

2 BR

$2,043

3 BR

$2,694

4 BR+

$3,139

Research median

$2,043/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$26,688/yr

At $2,224/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.7% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Seattle, WA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 68.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

754,195

Median income

$123,860

Median age

35.6

Renters

56.3%

Age distribution

13.8%

35.1%

28.6%

13%

Under 1813.8%

18–3435.1%

35–5428.6%

55–649.6%

65+13%

Gender

50.9%

49.1%

Male50.9%

Female49.1%

Race & ethnicity

60.3%

17.6%

White60.3%

Black6.5%

Hispanic8.5%

Asian17.6%

Other7%

Education (25+)

18.1%

68.4%

No HS diploma4%

HS diploma9.5%

Some college18.1%

Bachelor's+68.4%

Housing tenure

43.7%

56.3%

Owner43.7%

Renter56.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Seattle, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,775 → $2,224

up 25.3%

Income

$105,391 → $123,860

up 17.5%

Population

726,054 → 754,195

up 3.9%

Renter share

54.8% → 56.3%

+1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

65.9% → 68.4%

+2.5 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in Seattle, WA has climbed by $449 per month, settling near $2,224 after starting the period at $1,775. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $105,391 in 2021 to $123,860 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 7.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 726,054 to 754,195 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.9% change. About 56.3% of households rent today, against 54.8% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 65.9% to 68.4%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Seattle, WA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Seattle

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View Seattle rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Seattle on your salary?

At $2,224/mo, how Seattle rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 25.2% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 35.5% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 30.8% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 17.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 13.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 37.9% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 42% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 34.1% income

stretched

By apartment size

Seattle rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Seattle

About renting in Seattle, WA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Seattle is $2,224/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,710/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,043/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,753/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,694/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($123,860/yr), Seattle ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Seattle an affordable city for renters?

Seattle is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,224/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($123,860/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Seattle falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Seattle?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $89,000/year (~$43/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,224/mo in Seattle. The local median household income is $123,860/yr, meaning the typical Seattle household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Seattle?

Rent in Seattle has increased 1.7% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Seattle neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Seattle are 98125 ($1,853/mo), 98144 ($1,964/mo), and 98104 ($2,009/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Seattle is $2,224/mo.

How does Seattle rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Seattle is middle-of-the-pack for Washington for rent, ranking #40 out of 110 tracked cities at $2,224/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Seattle?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Seattle ($2,224/mo): Burien ($1,896/mo), Bryn Mawr-Skyway ($2,000/mo), Shoreline ($2,042/mo).

What percentage of Seattle residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 56.3% of Seattle households are renters, while 43.7% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Seattle has a strong rental market.

How does Seattle rent compare to the national average?

Seattle's median rent of $2,224/mo is $259 (13%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Washington, it ranks #40 out of 110 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

22%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,224/mo, rent takes ~22% of Seattle's median household income ($123,860/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Seattle 22%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Seattle affordability calculator →

Nearby cities