Seattle

Seattle, WA Area Guide

The Emerald City is more than a fairytale

Coastal Scenic Bike-Friendly Walkable Hiking

Nestled on the shores of Puget Sound, Seattle is home to glorious mountain views in the distance, making it one of the most scenic metropolitan areas in the nation. Skyscrapers like the Columbia Center and Space Needle grace the city’s skyline, adding to Seattle’s allure. Starbucks, Amazon, and Nordstrom have headquarters in Seattle, so there are plenty of job opportunities in the city. Interstates 5 and 405 and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are major benefits for frequent travelers. Residents enjoy exploring the waterfront neighborhoods of Pioneer Square and the famous Pike Place Market for shopping, trendy bars, and restaurants.

Seattle’s art scene is very vibrant, flanked with art galleries, theaters, and sculptures. The city is home to more than 80 music halls and 15 symphony orchestras. Bumbershoot Musical Festival, held every Labor Day Weekend, is one of the world’s largest international music and arts festivals—so don’t miss it this upcoming year! Seattle is the ideal metropolis for residents with an active lifestyle and an interest in parks, hiking, and biking. Check out the trails at Cougar Mountain Wildland Park and Tiger Mountain State Forest after you find your luxury apartment in the city.

Explore the City

Seattle's scenic mountain views

Seattle's rugged landscape

The Blue Angels fly past the Space Needle

Cheer on the Mariners at T-Mobile Park

Lumen Field is home to the Seattle Seahawks

The beautiful Seattle skyline

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Seattle, WA is $1,486 for a studio, $2,078 for one bedroom, $2,778 for two bedrooms, and $3,799 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Seattle has decreased by -0.4% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,078/month
649 Sq Ft
House
$3,154/month
1,235 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,826/month
820 Sq Ft
Townhome
$3,475/month
1,188 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Seattle, WA

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Seattle, WA is 44.5% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Seattle is 103.6% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,486 - $3,799. You can expect to pay 11.0% more for groceries, 0.2% more for utilities, and 34.4% more for transportation.

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Learn More About Seattle

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10 Most Affordable Neighborhoods in Seattle

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10 Best Seattle Neighborhoods for Coffee Lovers

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10 Things Seattle is Known For

Discover what makes the Emerald City shine, from Pike Place Market to national parks. Here are 10 iconic features that make Seattle unique.

10 Most Pet-Friendly Neighborhoods in Seattle, WA

Seattle is one of the most pet-friendly cities in the U.S. and some of its neighborhoods go above and beyond to welcome and include pets. Check out the most pet-friendly neighborhoods in Seattle and why they are known as such.

Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Seattle, WA is for everyday living.

Exceptionally walkable

Walkability

100 / 100

Exceptional public transit

Transit

100 / 100

Moderately drivable

Drivability

60 / 100

Moderately bikeable

Bikeability

60 / 100

Schools

Whittier Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

Catharine Blaine K-8 School

Public

Grades K-8

Queen Anne Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Cascadia Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Catharine Blaine K-8 School

Public

Grades K-8

Rainier Prep

Public

Grades K-8

Madison Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

McClure Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Lincoln High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Ballard High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Roosevelt High School

Public

Grades 9-12

The Center School

Public

Grades 9-12

Summit Public Schools: Sierra

Public

Grades 9-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Denny Park
  • Freeway Park
  • Cascade Playground
  • Seattle Aquarium
  • Olympic Sculpture Park

Airports

  • Seattle-Tacoma International
  • Seattle Paine Field International

Top Apartments in Seattle

Houses for Rent in Seattle

Property Management Companies in Seattle, WA

Living in Seattle

Cost

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Renters living in the Emerald City pay an average of $2,324/month to rent an apartment, 76% higher than the Washington state average. City dwellers exploring houses for rent in Seattle can expect to pay around $2,200/month. For those looking to buy, the average house is valued at $831,102, compared to the state average of $553,846. Despite the high cost of renting in Seattle, there are still cheap Seattle apartments available for rent starting at around $700/month.

Highlights

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Top destinations in Seattle include the Space Needle, Pioneer Square, Pike Place Market, T-Mobile Park, Queen Anne Hill, the University of Washington, Elliott Bay Book Company, Fremont Troll, Uwajimaya, Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle Art Museum, and the Seattle Aquarium.

When comparing Seattle to cities in Canada, Vancouver comes closest to matching Seattle's vibe.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.