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Seattle, WA Rent Affordability Calculator

The median rent in the Seattle, WA area is $2,000 a month including utilities, which takes 21% of the median household income ($115,177). Paying it on 30% of income needs about $80,000 a year.

On $115,000 a year, 30% of income is $2,875 a month for rent. A $2,000 rent takes 20.9% of gross income; many landlords want income of 40 times the rent, $80,000.

Rent you can afford
$2,875 a month
That rent takes
20.9% of income
Income a landlord may ask for (40× rent)
$80,000

Rent you can afford in Seattle, WA by income (30% rule)

IncomeAffordable rentAgainst the median rent
$40,000$1,000−50.0%
$60,000$1,500−25.0%
$80,000$2,0000.0%
$100,000$2,50025.0%
$150,000$3,75087.5%

How this calculator works

Median gross rent and median household income for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area, from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Affordable rent is 30% of gross monthly income.

What it assumes

  • Medians across all rentals, of every size and age; new listings usually ask more.

Questions people ask

What is the average rent in Seattle, WA?

The median gross rent is $2,000 a month, including utilities (Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

What salary do I need to live in Seattle, WA?

To rent at the median on 30% of income, about $80,000 a year; many landlords ask for 40 times the rent, $80,000.

Is rent affordable in Seattle, WA?

The median rent takes 21% of the median household income there, within the 30% guideline.

How does the cost of living in Seattle, WA compare?

Overall prices are 11.1% above the US average, and housing 51.3% above (BEA, 2024).

Nearby and large metro areas

Related calculators

  • Rent Affordability CalculatorThe rent your income supports under the 30% guideline, what a given rent takes of your pay, and the income landlords often ask for, with median rents in large metro areas.
  • Seattle, WA Cost of Living CalculatorPrices in the Seattle, WA area are 11.1% above the US average, and housing 51.3% above (BEA, 2024). Compare a salary here with anywhere else.
  • Rent vs Buy CalculatorWhether buying or renting leaves you better off after the years you plan to stay, counting mortgage interest, tax, upkeep, selling costs and what a renter earns investing the down payment.

Sources

Updated by the RateHerald team. The maths is tested against worked examples; report a problem.