Seattle, WA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Seattle, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Seattle →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Seattle's population is about 734,603. On income, the typical household clears $116,068 a year, running above the median household income across the cities we cover (+61%).
Expect a median home value of $879,900 in Seattle, which runs above what we see across other cities (+169%). Median rent lands at $1,945/month — a useful baseline before comparing mortgage payments to rent.
Buying a typical home in Seattle would take about 7.6 years of median household income — a high multiple that points to real affordability pressure. Prices in Seattle have barely moved, inching up 0.89% over the past year. FEMA rates Seattle's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High — worth factoring into home insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,945/mo in Seattle would take 20.1% of your income.
$957/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($879,900) would take 48.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$1,989/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Seattle
Median home value is $879,900 and median gross rent is $1,945/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for King rose 0.89% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,501/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Seattle's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Seattle reported a violent crime rate of 705.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Seattle
Planning a move to Seattle? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Explore neighborhoods in Seattle →
Cost estimates for moving between Seattle and nearby popular destinations:
- Moving from Seattle to Denver
- Moving from Seattle to Los Angeles
- Moving from Seattle to San Francisco
- Moving from Seattle to New York
- Moving from Seattle to Boston
- Moving from Seattle to Portland
- Moving from Seattle to San Jose
- Moving from Seattle to San Diego
- Moving from Seattle to Salt Lake City
- Moving from Seattle to Raleigh
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Seattle, WA?
- Cost of living in Seattle centers on housing: median home value runs $879,900, median rent runs $1,945/month, and the typical household earns $116,068 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Seattle?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Seattle, where median rent runs $1,945/month, you'd want to earn about $77,800 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Seattle.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Seattle?
- With a median home value of $879,900 and median rent of $1,945/month, renting comfortably in Seattle takes about $77,800/year (the 30% guideline), while buying at the median price takes roughly $201,317/year in principal-and-interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates). The right call depends on how long you plan to stay and your down payment.
- Is Seattle safe?
- FBI data puts Seattle's violent crime rate at 705.9 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Seattle →
Compare Seattle to similar cities
- Seattle vs Denver: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Los Angeles vs Seattle: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- San Francisco vs Seattle: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Seattle vs New York: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Boston vs Seattle: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Portland vs Seattle: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Seattle's.