With your sights set firmly on Seattle, the excitement is growing but there are some understandably large decisions still to make. Yes, you’ve done your research about Seattle, from its stunning natural beauty to its thriving job market, it's no wonder that you and so many others are flocking to this Pacific Northwest gem but like any city, there are costs associated with living in Seattle.
In this post, Christian and the Sea-Town Team break down the cost of living in Seattle into several categories to give you a better understanding of what to expect if you're considering moving to this vibrant city:
So, what’s the cost of living in Seattle?
(Prefer to watch Christian Harris, Managing Broker of the Sea-Town Team, break it down in his YouTube video then click on the video in this post to watch.)
And for the rest who would like to keep reading, let’s get into it.
We probably do not have to say this but, the first thing we’re all looking at, or paying when drawing up our monthly income and expenditure is our rent or mortgage payments. No matter which city you’re living in. it’s priority number one and therefore your first point of consideration when looking at the cost of living in a city like Seattle.
With that in mind, let’s orientate ourselves with regard to Seattle, the state of Washington, and the Pacific Northwest.
So, let’s zoom out for a minute and look at a map of the state of Washington where we’ll notice a mountain range running the length of Washington, known as the Cascades. It separates what is referred to as East and West Washington and produces dramatically different climates on either side of the state.
Although when most people think of Washington State, they are usually only describing Western Washington with its temperate climate and plenty of greenery and ocean, rivers, lakes, etc, where it never gets too hot in summer or too cold in winter. However, on the eastern side of the mountains, Eastern Washington is more like the Mid-West, a lot flatter and prone to greater variations in temperature between summer and winter months, and is where you will find the farmlands and vineyards of Washington.
Olympic Peninsuula, Mount Olympus and the Puget Sound
On the far northwest of Washington state, we have another mountain known as Mount Olympus which is (not so co-incidentally) situated on the Olympic Peninsula and encompasses part of the Olympic National Park Only a couple hours’ drive from Seattle this area is a nature lovers’ paradise, teeming with wildlife such as bears, elks, and goats, and a perfect location for backpacking or even a weekend getaway.
Between the Olympic Peninsula and the city of Seattle, we have a salty body of water known as the Puget Sound which extends northwards towards Canada, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca which leads out into the Pacific Ocean proper. This forms the western shoreline of the greater Seattle with the city itself wedged between the Puget Sound and a man-made body of water known as Lake Washington. It is Lake Washington, which then divides the city of Seattle into the East and West sides of Seattle much like the Cascades and Mount Ranier dividing the State of Washington.
Zooming into the city proper, Seattle has 95 neighborhoods with the people being very proud of their neighborhoods with each having a different feel. From the luxurious and monied feel of Bellevue in the east, Ballard and Wallingford in the north, the Downtown Corridor, the sleepier West Seattle, and the popular Alki Beach, all the way down to South Seattle, Seattle has something for all.
Take a look at this brief synopsis to give you a feel for the Seattle neighborhoods.
Also, have a look at our own West Seattle Resource, right here on our site.
Hopefully, that’s given you some insight into the layout and dynamic of some of our beloved Seattle neighborhoods. The time now to get into some figures. As of writing this post towards the end of February 2023, Redfin listed that there were 1338 properties on the market in greater Seattle, starting from around $250,000 for a small condo to over $10 million for some really spectacular luxury properties. For January 2023, the average sales price in Seattle(excluding Bellevue and Mercer Island) was $760,000 which represents an increase of 4,1% yoy with 364 properties being sold showing a downtrend on the previous year’s 640 with the properties on the market for an average of 43 days. (Bear in mind though that January is traditionally a slow month in Real Estate)
So, what does this translate to? In essence, the Seattle housing market is a very competitive real estate market and as in its neighborhoods, there truly is something for everyone ranging from houseboats and condos, with views of sea-planes coming and going and bustling downtown to larger family homes and luxury villas with spectacular lake or seafront views.
But with the average property receiving at least 2 offers and the more desirable properties selling over asking yet only being on the market for a few days, it can be a minefield trying to navigate your way through the Seattle real estate market. And that’s why having partners such as Christian Harris and the Sea-Town Team to help guide and navigate you through the housing market in Seattle is imperative.
Book your 15 min Call with Christian Harris and start your property journey in Seattle, the Sea-Town Team way. Trust us, let him deal with the stress and the nitty-gritty of real estate in Seattle, and simply be delighted by his differentiated approach to real estate.
(But don’t believe us, have a look at what his clients have to say about him on zillow)
“Christian sold our home, we had four offers to review. And we sold it for 32k over listing price! Sure a great team to work with, the photos and video of the property were amazing! Christian and his team even purchased the additional items needed to pass the appraisal. I would highly recommend this team for all real estate transactions!”
“Great Job!
It was such a pleasure working with Christian. We were first time home buyers and he did a fantastic job guiding us through the home buying process. We had to purchase sight unseen and he made the experience very easy. He was always on hand to answer any questions we had. I would highly recommend Christian if you are looking to purchase a home.”
By the way, and before I move on to the next category, it would be amiss of me not to mention that it would be a great idea to get Christian to refer you to one of our preferred lenders while you are on that call with him. Getting a pre-approval will ease a lot of the stress of the unknown when starting your property search and will make budgeting for the other non-negotiables easier as well.
Now that the biggest expense is out of the way, lets look at the other costs associated with living in Seattle.
Keeping with our Income and Expenditure theme out next item after our mortgage or rent would normally be our utilities bill.
Utilities
When it comes to utilities, such as electricity, natural gas, water, Wi-Fi, and cable, there's a pretty big diversity in Washington State. With many rivers, there's a lot of hydroelectric power, which makes the electricity fairly cheap compared to the rest of the country. For an apartment, you're looking at approximately $80 per month.
In the Seattle area, electricity is provided by the city-owned Seattle City Lights, while natural gas, used for heating, is supplied by privately-owned Puget Sound Energy. This means that natural gas prices are prone to fluctuation especially in the harsher winter months. However, they're still relatively reasonable for most of the year. During December and January, the average gas bill for Seattle apartments is roughly $100. On the other hand, the summer months result in a much lower natural gas bill, averaging around $60 a month. A big reason for this is that Seattle and western Washington, in general, have a very mild climate, so not many people have air conditioning. in their homes
Seattle has an abundance of fresh water rivers, which makes water relatively cheap and abundant. The city charges a peak rate for water usage during the summer months to discourage overuse. This means that residents will pay slightly higher rates for water from May to September, even if their usage remains the same. Water and sewer bills are usually combined, with sewer rates based on water usage. The average monthly cost for water and sewer for an apartment is around $65.
When it comes to Wi-Fi and cable, your most affordable option typically for internet is paired with your favorite streaming service or with cable. The two largest high-speed internet providers in Seattle are CenturyLink and Comcast Xfinity, both offering fiber in most areas, which is up to one gig speeds. The average price of those plans is around $35 per month. If you do bundle it with cable, you'll be paying more, around $50 to $70 a month.
In summary, utilities in Seattle are generally affordable, with electricity prices being fairly cheap compared to the rest of the country. Natural gas prices can fluctuate, but they're reasonable for most of the year. Water is relatively cheap and abundant, with peak rates charged during the summer months. For Wi-Fi and cable, residents can expect to pay around $35 per month for high-speed internet or between $50 and $70 per month for internet and cable bundles.
However, keep in mind that these costs can vary depending on your location and consumption habits. It's always a good idea to research utility providers in your area and compare prices to ensure you're getting the best deal. Additionally, many apartment buildings in Seattle include utilities in the rent, so make sure to check with your landlord to see what is covered. Overall, while utilities can add up, there are ways to manage costs and find affordable options in Seattle.
GROCERIES
Let's start talking about groceries. But first, although Seattle is known for its incredible food scene, eating out can be expensive. Expect to pay around $15 for a mid-range restaurant meal, and $4 for a cappuccino. If you're looking to save money, cooking at home is a good option. Groceries are slightly more expensive than the national average, but not prohibitively so.
In Seattle, a single employed adult who cooks their own meals, snacks included, spends an average of $360 per month, which comes to about $3,792 annually, according to MIT estimates. As a family of three, we spend around $600 per month or $7,200 per year on groceries. But that doesn't account for dining out at restaurants, which, as mentioned, can be significantly higher.
A Nielsen survey conducted in the Seattle metro area reported that the median amount spent on groceries per week was approximately $152 from February to August 2020, totaling to around $608 per month. This figure is quite similar to our spending. The survey also showed that the median spending on groceries increased by 25% or $30 per week compared to the same period in 2019, when the average amount spent on groceries was about $122.
The rise in grocery prices could be attributed to various factors, with one of the most prominent ones being the increase in the number of people purchasing groceries and cooking at home, particularly since the pandemic began. Seattle is a city that boasts a variety of food options, including groceries and restaurants. Besides, Seattleites are typically more health-conscious, which means that organic, free-range, hormone-free, non-GMO, and allergy-sensitive foods are readily available, although at a higher cost.
One of the good things about grocery shopping in Washington state is that there's no tax on most grocery items. The state law exempts most grocery type foods from retail sales tax. Nonetheless, prepared foods, soft drinks, dietary supplements, and alcoholic beverages are not included in the tax exemption.
In summary, groceries in Seattle are relatively pricey, but not prohibitively so. Several factors contribute to the rise in grocery prices, including the health-consciousness of Seattleites, the abundance of organic and allergy-sensitive foods, and the increase in grocery shopping since the pandemic. However, it is reassuring to know that most grocery items are tax-exempt in Washington state.
Transportation
The other bugbear of our existence is often the daily commute. Be it between the office, school, or simply, our daily, weekly, or monthly errand or grocery run, it can cost us a lot in time and, more often than not, be a substantial part of our monthly budget.
As someone who has lived in Seattle, Christian Harris, explains,
”I can tell you that transportation can be a big factor in your cost of living. The traffic in Seattle is notoriously bad, primarily because it bottlenecks going through Seattle on the I-5. Therefore, if you work on one side of the city or the other, I recommend buying a house on that side of the city to avoid traffic.
If you are working in south Seattle, you may not want to have a house in north Seattle because getting through downtown Seattle can be a nightmare. In my experience, I found the West Seattle area and Burien to be more accessible. These areas have additional freeways going in, such as 509 which drops into what they call SODO here, so south downtown. And it also bumps over to I-5.”
Want to know which other areas of Seattle may be a good fit for you? Book a call with Christian and let him calmly get you acquainted with Seattle before your next move.
In terms of the cost of transportation, Seattle has some of the highest gas prices in the country, 18% higher than the national average, and it is more expensive to own a car. The national average for gas is $3.31 a gallon, while Seattle's average is just over $4 a gallon. Additionally, car insurance rates are on average $248 per month or about $3,000 per year, making Washington state the 18th most expensive state in the country for car insurance rates and 10% more expensive than the national average.
Where to live in Seattle
However, you don't necessarily need a car to live in Seattle. Public transportation is a viable option. There are two public transportation agencies in the city of Seattle: King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit. King County Metro is the bus system, while Sound Transit is the light rail, which ranges from two dollars and 25 cents to $3.25 cents. As long as you are on a bus line, and there are quite a few of them, it's pretty easy to get in and out of downtown Seattle or even over to the east side, which is where T-Mobile, Microsoft, and Google are located.
If you are a single adult living in the Emerald City, you can expect to spend around $5,000 annually on transportation. For a family of two, both full-time employed adults and a child, the cost is around $11,000 a year. Therefore, transportation could be one of your more expensive costs after housing but with some strategic planning, you can manage your transportation costs and enjoy all that the city has to offer.
SCHOOLING
When it comes to schooling in Seattle, there are plenty of options available for families. GreatSchools has rated 133 public schools in Seattle as good or higher, which translates to a 5 or higher in their 10-point grading system. On top of that, there are 95 private and charter schools to choose from as well.
The school district officials have a budget of just over 1 billion dollars per year, which means they have an allocation of approximately $20,000 per student. This is a substantial amount, even surpassing the tuition fees of most private schools for K-12 education.
When it comes to college readiness, there are a few notable school districts in Washington state. One of them is Mercer Island, located in the middle of Lake Washington. Mercer Island is known for being an affluent community, connected to Seattle and Bellevue by the I-90 floating bridge. Bellevue, another affluent area with a strong presence of tech jobs, is also recognized for its top-performing school district. Lake Washington, situated in the Kirkland area, is another noteworthy district for its academic achievements.
In addition to these, there are a couple of other notable districts worth mentioning. Shoreline, located north of Seattle, and Issaquah, accessible via I-90, both offer quality education opportunities for students.
Overall, Seattle provides a diverse range of school options, including highly-rated public, private, and charter schools. The significant funding allotted to public schools reflects the city's commitment to education, making it an attractive destination for families seeking quality schooling for their children.
The Big Question: How will we afford the Seattle lifestyle?
Easier than you think!
We pretty much covered the essential expenses of living in Seattle, and based on the above we can surmise that cost of living in Seattle is above the national average with things like housing and eating out, way above that average. The burning question is obviously, how will you afford to live in a city like Seattle., with the great quality of life it affords, but with some things seemingly out of reach? The factor with the biggest impact and probably the deciding factor for most, is going to be your income potential. The good news is that the estimated median household income in Seattle at the end of 2019 was approximately $92,000, much higher than the national average and furthermore, the State of Washington has no income tax or sales tax on most grocery items.
When you pull up MIT’s living wage calculator(this is a very handy tool) for Seattle we note that the hourly living wage(at the time of writing) is $21.48 for a single adult and actually drops to $15,57 for two working adults in the same family. Notably slightly below the state’s minimum wage of $15.74. Adding a child into the mix for a two-working adult family takes the wage back up to $22.76 with the poverty line at $5.54.
So, keep in mind that Seattle's affluence is growing alongside its population growth. The number of Seattle families earning over two hundred thousand dollars a year is actually greater than the number making less than fifty thousand dollars a year. Seattle is known for its thriving job market, particularly in industries like technology and aerospace, and with companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing headquartered in the region, there are abundant opportunities for well-paying jobs.