Cost of living Denver vs Seattle: rent, home prices, salary
According to BEA's RPP for 2024, Seattle's price level is 5.0% above Denver's. Their indexes are 111.1 and 105.8, with the US average at 100.
| US = 100 for price levels | Denver | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Price level, all items | 105.8 | 111.1 |
| Housing (rents) | 146.9 | 151.3 |
| Goods | 101.0 | 104.0 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 92.8 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 106.8 |
| Typical rent a month | $1,855 | $2,227 |
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $520,947 | $822,572 |
| Median household income | $92,504 | $118,745 |
| Price to income | 5.6 | 6.9 |
Metro figures use BEA regional price parities for 2024, with rents and values drawn from Zillow ZORI and ZHVI, and income from Census ACS 2024. BEA regional price parities
Salary needed for a move from Denver to Seattle
Both price levels work together to scale the salary. It is a before-tax figure, and taxes vary by state and locality. Other cities: comparison of living costs by city.
Denver vs Seattle: rental costs
In the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), current listed homes have a typical monthly asking rent of $1,855 in Denver and $2,227 in Seattle. The Seattle figure is 20.1% above Denver's. BEA's housing price level tracks rents, with Denver at 146.9 and Seattle at 151.3.
| Rent | Denver | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,855 | $2,227 |
| 12-month change | +0.1% | +0.5% |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,870 | $2,007 |
| Housing price level, BEA (US = 100) | 146.9 | 151.3 |
Denver and Seattle home prices
The Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) estimates the middle-of-the-market value of a typical home. In September 2026, Denver's figure was $520,947 and Seattle's was $822,572. Seattle's typical home price is 57.9% above Denver's.
| Home prices | Denver | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $520,947 | $822,572 |
| 12-month change | −1.9% | −1.8% |
| 10-year change | +44.4% | +44.2% |
| Price to income | 5.6 | 6.9 |
| Price to rent | 23.4 | 30.8 |
Price to income is the typical home value divided by the median household income (Census ACS 2024). The price to rent ratio places the typical home value over asking rent for a full year.
Price histories for both cities
Denver appears on the steel line, while Seattle appears on the grey line. From January 2000 to now, the typical Denver home rose from $175,547 to $520,947, ×2.97. The typical Seattle home increased from $256,562 to $822,572, ×3.21.