Cost of living in Seattle: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in Seattle stands 11.1% above the US average. For 2024, the regional price parity (RPP) published by BEA puts the Seattle, WA metro area at 111.1, with the US at 100, and housing alone at 151.3.
- Level of prices
- 111.1US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 151.3. Rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Seattle
One measure is the regional price parity. It sets the cost of an identical basket of goods and services in a single place against the US average, which is fixed at 100. BEA prices the whole Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area as one, and Seattle sits inside it. Housing (rents) is the part that lies furthest from the US average, at 151.3, or 51.3% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Seattle, WA metro | Washington | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.1 | 107.0 | +11.1% |
| Goods | 104.0 | 104.4 | +4.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 151.3 | 126.0 | +51.3% |
| Utilities | 92.8 | 92.9 | −7.2% |
| Other services | 106.8 | 103.9 | +6.8% |
2024 price parities for metro areas and states, from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. BEA regional price parities
Seattle rents
The Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) measures rent for homes listed now. On that basis, Seattle's typical asking rent is $2,227 a month, +0.5% on a year. In the US, the figure is $1,932. Census median gross rent is $2,007, and it counts every renting household, not only new leases. One year of asking rent equals 23% of median household income.
| Rent | Seattle | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $2,227 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +0.5% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $2,007 | $1,487 |
| Share of median income for a year of asking rent | 23% | 28% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index; one-year estimates from Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024.
Seattle home prices
The Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) measures a typical home's value in the middle of the market. For Seattle in September 2026, it put that home at $822,572. That is a change of −1.8% on a year, while the US figure is $366,157. That equals 6.9 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Seattle | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $822,572 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +44.2% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 6.9 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 30.8 | 15.8 |
The forecast and days on market, plus the price chart since 2000: Seattle housing market.
Salary required to live in Seattle
Finding the salary in Seattle that matches what your pay buys now takes two answers: the place you live in, and the amount you earn. Both matter.
- Moving from
- Salary
Every city, plus the method, side by side: cost of living comparison.
Moving to Seattle? Compare moving quotes on Moving.com, a mover-quote service; we are not paid for this link.
Cost of living in Seattle compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Typical rent level | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 111.1 | 151.3 | $2,227 | $822,572 |
| Spokane | 100.3 | 97.1 | $1,483 | $392,803 |
| Vancouver | 105.4 | 125.1 | $1,803 | $498,160 |
| Bellevue | 111.1 | 151.3 | $2,759 | $1,386,450 |
| Olympia | 103.7 | 116.7 | $1,969 | $526,205 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities (2024), where the US = 100. Rent figures come from Zillow ZORI. Home value comes from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: cost of living comparison. Every state: cost of living for every state.