Seattle, Washington has an overall cost of living index of 112.7, which is 12.7 points above the US average of 100 — making it pricier than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $2,030 per month, while the typical home is valued around $938,600. Households earn a median of $123,860 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is moderate, with an average AQI of 52. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$123,860
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$2,030
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$938,600
Median Home Value
Census ACS
112.7
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$2,074
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$2,146
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$2,501
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$3,272
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
112.7
Goods
108.1
Rents / Housing
151.6
Services
85.3
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $181,040 |
| Registered Nurse | $120,260 |
| Elementary Teacher | $97,740 |
| Electrician | $100,230 |
| Accountant | $106,100 |
| Plumber | $94,630 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $297,080 |
| Civil Engineer | $116,330 |
| Operations Manager | $171,840 |
| Market Research Analyst | $112,920 |
| Health Services Manager | $172,810 |
| Truck Driver | $70,690 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $157,760 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
754,195
Latest estimate
Median Age
35.6 yrs
Census ACS
52.0
Moderate0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
32
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,907
Per month
Avg Home Value
$840,948
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 98101 | — | $2,393 | $773,200 |
| ZIP 98102 | — | $1,912 | $1,042,000 |
| ZIP 98103 | — | $1,982 | $970,100 |
| ZIP 98104 | — | $1,502 | $712,900 |
| ZIP 98105 | — | $1,755 | $1,253,600 |
| ZIP 98106 | — | $1,718 | $633,900 |
| ZIP 98107 | — | $2,172 | $896,300 |
| ZIP 98108 | — | $1,444 | $676,000 |
| ZIP 98109 | — | $2,241 | $941,100 |
| ZIP 98112 | — | $1,984 | $1,259,800 |
Showing top 10 of 32 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
42°F
July Avg
67°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
32.1
poor
Hospitals
9
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
95.8%
Seattle has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 112.7. The US national average is 100, so Seattle is 12.7 points above the national average.
The median gross rent in Seattle is $2,030 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Seattle is $123,860 per year.
The median home value in Seattle is $938,600 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Seattle has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 52.0, which is rated "Moderate" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Washington is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
