How much rent can you afford in Seattle, WA?
Run your salary against Seattle's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Seattle
At a median rent of $2,224/mo, Seattle is very affordable when measured against Seattle median household income of $123,860/yr. Rent would consume roughly 22% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $88,960 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Seattle compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Seattle?
On a $123,860 salary (the Seattle median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $3,097/mo. Seattle's median rent is $2,224/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Seattle?
To keep Seattle's $2,224/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $88,960/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Seattle affordable on the median Washington income?
Seattle is very affordable on a $123,860 income. Rent would take 22% 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".