Rents are 3% below what Tukwila's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,990 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Tukwila is 1.9% below its high of $2,028 in July 2026, at $1,990 as of September 2026.
Rent in Tukwila changed +0.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($78,381) is $1,960 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,887); a 3-bedroom is $2,324.
Burien, 4 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,748/mo), about $2,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Tukwila. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Tukwila, WA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 25.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Tukwila, WA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Tukwila, WA stood at $1,868 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,990, reflecting a 6.5% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $71,688 to $78,381 between 2021 and 2024, a 9.3% shift. Renters now make up 59.6% of households, compared with 57.3% five years ago. Taken together, the five-year picture in Tukwila, 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.
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Can you afford rent in Tukwila on your salary?
At $1,990/mo, how Tukwila rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Tukwila rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Tukwila. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Tukwila
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Tukwila is $1,990/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,761/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,887/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,784/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,324/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($78,381/yr), Tukwila ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Tukwila?
Is rent going up or down in Tukwila?
How does Tukwila rent compare to other cities in Washington?
At $1,990/mo, rent takes ~30% of Tukwila's median household income ($78,381/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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