Cost of living in Seattle, WA
4,161,883 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 11.1% above the US average, with housing at 151.3 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $187 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Seattle, WA
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, DOL 2022 childcare prices for King County, WA in current dollars, USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $115,177 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $9,598 |
| Taxes | $870 | $1,382 | $1,289 |
| Take-home pay | $4,130 | $7,785 | $8,309 |
| Housing | $2,180 | $2,549 | $2,549 |
| Childcare | $0 | $2,064 | $3,594 |
| Food | $458 | $1,028 | $1,334 |
| Transportation | $217 | $434 | $434 |
| Sales tax | $34 | $34 | $34 |
| Other goods & services | $1,054 | $1,054 | $1,054 |
| Left over | $187 | $622 | −$690 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($115,177). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Seattle, WA vs Washington and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Washington statewide (light).
Within Washington, Seattle, WA ranks 1st of 11 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 107.0. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,091 | $83,640 | 21.8% |
| 1-bedroom | $2,180 | $87,200 | 22.7% |
| 2-bedroom | $2,549 | $101,960 | 26.6% |
| 3-bedroom | $3,324 | $132,960 | 34.6% |
| 4-bedroom | $3,954 | $158,160 | 41.2% |
FY2027 FMRs for Seattle-Bellevue, WA HUD Metro FMR Area: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $2,000 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in King County, WA
| Age band | Center, weekly (2022) | Center, yearly today* | Home-based, weekly (2022) | Home-based, yearly today* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $478 | $30,413 | $347 | $22,052 |
| Toddler (2) | $390 | $24,771 | $310 | $19,696 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $390 | $24,771 | $310 | $19,696 |
| School-age (5–12) | $289 | $18,361 | $245 | $15,594 |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 county medians for full-time care in King County, WA (the metro’s principal county). *52 weeks × 1.2224, the BLS CPI change for day care and preschool from the 2022 average to 2026-08.
Taxes: what you keep in Seattle
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Washington income tax | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Washington payroll taxes | $694 | $1,040 | $1,665 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,472 | $5,046 | $7,632 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 16.7% | 19.3% | 23.7% |
No mandatory local income tax for residents of Seattle in our data. State sales tax: 6.5% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | — | 111.1 | $2,549 | $187 |
| Bremerton, WA · compare | 18 mi | 105.6 | $1,967 | $859 (+$672) |
| Olympia, WA · compare | 47 mi | 103.7 | $1,946 | $738 (+$551) |
| Mount Vernon, WA · compare | 55 mi | 102.4 | $1,668 | $1,119 (+$932) |
| Bellingham, WA · compare | 79 mi | 103.3 | $1,872 | $865 (+$678) |
| Wenatchee, WA · compare | 95 mi | 103.9 | $1,467 | $1,273 (+$1,086) |
| Longview, WA · compare | 106 mi | 97.5 | $1,398 | $1,270 (+$1,083) |
Common moves to and from Seattle, WA
Census ACS metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020), people who moved in a year.
- Spokane, WA7,954
- Olympia, WA7,010
- Bremerton, WA6,264
- Phoenix, AZ6,069
- Portland, OR-WA5,786
- Los Angeles, CA5,585
- Bellingham, WA3,993
- San Francisco, CA3,853
- Los Angeles, CA8,813
- Portland, OR-WA8,005
- San Francisco, CA6,103
- Bremerton, WA5,805
- New York, NY-NJ5,210
- Phoenix, AZ4,843
- Olympia, WA4,609
- Chicago, IL-IN4,258
Frequently asked questions
Is Seattle, WA expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Seattle, WA metro at 111.1 (US = 100) in 2024 — 11.1% above the national average and the 7th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 151.3, goods 104.0.
What salary do you need to live in Seattle, WA?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $4,130 a month after 2026 taxes and has $187 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Seattle, WA?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $2,180 for a 1-bedroom and $2,549 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $2,000.
Does Seattle have a local income tax?+
No mandatory local income tax applies to residents of Seattle in our 2026 data. Washington state income tax does not apply to wages.