Cost of Living in Seattle, WA

An Overview of Cost of Living in Seattle, WA

Knowing the cost of living in Seattle allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Seattle stands at 180, marking it 80% higher than the national average.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Seattle is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Seattle falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Seattle cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 224.3% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Seattle, you you will have to spend 19.5% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Seattle, it's the same story – grocery costs are 16.3% higher than what people pay across the country.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Seattle?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 43 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Seattle and this is how they responded. 5% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 95% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Seattle Affordable?

Wondering if Seattle is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Seattle, for example, the median home price is 286.4% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 79.3% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Seattle boasting a median household income of $97,185, which is 75.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Seattle?

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Seattle, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.5%, and income tax rates start at 0%.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Seattle, the transportation index is 28.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Seattle cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.