Dive into Seattle's fascinating history—from its 'swampy mess' origins to the birthplace of grunge. Explore areas to rent like Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, and the new Overlook Walk.
Touring a rental? This guide helps you know exactly what to look for, from safety features to hidden flaws, so you can confidently sign your lease or keep searching.
Discover Seattle's top neighborhoods to rent near major employers like Amazon, Meta, and Fred Hutchinson. Find your ideal work-life balance in the Emerald City.
Learn about Seattle, WA and the best places to live with original content written by our Local Expert Sharon Stallings
Wondering how to determine your rental budget? This comprehensive guide covers everything from the 30% rule to hidden fees and effective budgeting strategies.
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Studio Apartments | $1,633 | $594 | $5,050 |
| Seattle 1 Bedroom Apartments | $2,253 | $600 | $9,645 |
| Seattle 2 Bedroom Apartments | $3,166 | $600 | $10,000+ |
| Seattle 3 Bedroom Apartments | $4,749 | $1,099 | $10,000+ |
| Seattle 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,217 | $1,099 | $10,000+ |
| Seattle 5 Bedroom Apartments | $1,483 | $950 | $3,900 |
| Seattle 6 Bedroom Apartments | $7,751 | $1,420 | $10,000+ |
Avoid financial stress when renting. Learn about the 10 most common hidden costs—from pet fees to utilities—you must budget for before you sign a lease.
Read ArticleDiscover the insider tips from an attorney and real estate agent on how to negotiate your next apartment lease. Find out what's on the table and what's not, so you can save money and get the best terms possible.
Read ArticleMoving is tough, especially long-distance. Learn how to minimize stress & expenses with proven strategies from a real estate pro, covering everything from logistics to finances.
Read ArticleDiscover how your credit score impacts your ability to lease or buy a home. Learn how credit scores are determined, how to check yours, and strategies to improve it for real estate success.
Read ArticleLearn About the Best Neighborhoods to Rent Near College Campuses in Seattle, WA | Find Seattle Off-Campus Student Housing at ApartmentHomeLiving.com
Read ArticleLearn How a Move-In Inspection Can Protect Your Security Deposit from the Renter University at AparmentHomeLiving.com.
Read ArticleThe common "Rule of Thumb" is that rent should be no more than 30% of your income. How much is that? Enter your monthly income and click "Calculate My Budget" to find out.
If you’re an expert on all things Seattle, tell us what you love (and don't) by rating it and writing a review.
Write a ReviewSeattle, Washington, known as Emerald City, is a Pacific Northwest metropolis positioned on the eastern shore of Puget Sound encircled by mountains, forests and both fresh water and salt water. It’s the state’s largest city and includes thousands of acres of parkland. Its tech industry is booming and it’s home to the headquarters of Amazon and Microsoft. And of course, it’s also the birthplace of Starbucks. Seattle boasts a diverse cultural scene and hosts dozens of festivals regularly. This city is one of the fastest-growing in the United States which makes it a prime location to find your next apartment.
The Seattle area was originally occupied by Native Americans for at least 4,000 years before its founding in 1851. The name Seattle stems from Chief Si’ahl of the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes in that region. The town was initially built on logging and lumber, but eventually developed as a shipping and aircraft industries town.
You’ve probably heard that the weather in Seattle is rainy, with a chance of rain, followed by rain, right? Fortunately, for residents of this lovely city, that weather forecast is far from the truth. Though Seattle is blessed with more than its fair share of precipitation, the sun does indeed shine as well. Granted, the summer weather doesn’t really set in until early to mid-July, but it typically lasts through September. During July and August, you’ll enjoy comfortable temps in the mid-70s and lots of sunny skies. September is still warm, but the sun makes briefer appearances.
Fall in Seattle is “wet season,” starting with October, which sees lots of overcast days and impressive cloud activity. But the rainy part of the season really gets rolling in November, with what feels like unrelenting misting and drizzle. By December, you realize that the mild nature of this climate with still comfortable mid-40s temps stops no one from continuing to enjoy outdoor activities like biking, hiking and running.
January may be snowy winter weather in other states in this great union, but Seattle rarely ever gets the white stuff. Our temperate climes allow year-round growth of rosemary and rose bushes, and by February it actually starts to look like Spring, due to green buds and blooming flowers. March teases fair weather with a bit of sunshine now and again as well as temperatures reaching the 70s on occasion. And the opening cherry blossoms give everything a bright look and feel.
Rounding out the seasons, here comes April. Still drizzling, but no one cares. May showers are some of the last you’ll experience before summer returns. By June, you’re ready for the warm weather and the bright sun. You just need to soldier through the remaining rain showers, overcast days and low 60-degree weather until July arrives.
Seattle is full of public transportation options for local residents – from streetcar and monorail to ride sharing. You can get around downtown Seattle and neighboring King County areas with the Metro Transit. Make your way through South Lake Union on a streetcar with 11 stops. The Monorail ferries you from downtown Westlake Center to Seattle Center, and the Link Light Rail is convenient for trips between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac International Airport. For more personalized transportation needs, you may choose from hotel shuttles and courtesy vehicles, car service, taxis, town cars, limos and ride sharing. Seattle residents enjoy cycling as a viable transportation option as well, and Pronto Cycle Share allows you to rent bikes from kiosks to make your way around the city. It’s also fairly easy to get around much of the city proper on foot. Though a car isn’t necessary in downtown Seattle, private motorists are abundant throughout the rest of the area, and traffic congestion is the norm. To travel to and from Seattle, you can choose flight into the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, train by way of the King Street Amtrak Station, or even by boat with Seattle’s two cruise terminals.
Seattle is notorious for its traffic congestion and lengthy commute times. Interstates 5 and 405 are popular highways that experience some of the area’s worst congestion. The good news is that locals have launched Challenge Seattle to research solutions to this frustrating problem.
Seattle’s top news stations are KOMO 4, KING 5, KIRO 7 and Q13 Fox News. For “print” journalism, on and offline, Seattle residents get theirs from The Seattle Times, Seattlepi, The Stranger, Capitol Hill Times, the Seattle Bulletin and Seattle Weekly. Some popular radio stations in this area include C89.5, KISW FM 99.9, Hot 103.7 and Jack 96.5.
Seattle is a thriving, pulsing city with endless amenities and attractions to recommend it, as well as an excellent live music scene - making it a wonderful place to call home. There’s always something going on. This appealing city earned the nickname Emerald City for its striking year-round greenery, and if you don’t like snow, this is the spot for you. It even beats climate change according to UW meteorologist Cliff Mass. The food scene is on point. So tasty! Jobs! Even entry-level. With a $15 minimum wage, you are not starting at the bottom, and the unemployment rate is more than 2 points below the national average. And finally, it’s gorgeous here!
The Space Needle is practically synonymous with Seattle. This internationally known landmark was built for the futuristic 1962 World’s Fair, inspired by Germany’s Stuttgart Tower. It stands 605 feet tall and the revolving SkyCity Restaurant is at 520 feet. Another wildly popular attraction is the Pike Place Market, where visitors and natives flock for crafts, produce, seafood, eclectic shopping, restaurants and much more. This public market is a quintessential Seattle experience. Rounding out the short list is Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners, and Sky View Observatory rising nearly 1,000 feet into the sky offering the highest public viewing area on the west coast. On an educational tip, the University of Washington Seattle is a top rated research institute known for business, engineering and medicine.
The list of activities, attractions and engaging things to see and do in Seattle is virtually endless. Landmarks, museums, parks, galleries, theaters, lakes, arenas, centers, the zoo and the aquarium are just some of the limitless options available to you. Tour the Boeing factory. Go rafting or kayaking. Cruise Lake Union. The fun never stops.
Seattle area festivals, events and fairs are abundant. The Bumbershoot on Labor Day weekend features visual and performing artists and was named one of the five best U.S. festivals by Rolling Stone. The Seattle International Film Festival is the nation’s largest and longest running of its kind and draws in films from all over the world. The Seattle Pride Festival attracts more than 230,000 spectators from around the globe too. And of course another great festival option is the Seafair Summer Festivals that range from June through August celebrating community. There is always something going on to get out of the apartment and enjoy!
Seattle is positioned wonderfully for fun and exciting vacation opportunities for local residents to enjoy. Take the family rafting on the Skokomish River or Kayaking along nearby Lopez Island. Enjoy a tour and a day outdoors among glaciers, wildlife and waterfalls at Mount Rainier. Cruise the Puget Sound or escape to the Cascades in the Bavarian Alpine village of Leavenworth. Tour the Snoqualmie Falls or enjoy whale watching in the Sound and around the San Juan islands. Tours, trips, cruises and festivals all provide relaxing or active getaways. Your choice.
There are a lot of great places in which to find the perfect apartment in Seattle. We're here to give you some guidance about some of the popular neighborhoods around town. Wallingford has a small town vibe with the advantages of being a big city with good walkability and a lot of charm. The Fremont area provides Seattle residents with an active counter-culture and art scene along side having great schools and a strong tech presence. If you love beaches and being close to the water, then you might look at Alki as a potential place to move or if you'd prefer to be on the hill top on higher ground with fantastic views, check out neighborhoods like Capitol Hill and Magnolia. No matter where you choose to find your Seattle apartment, you're bound for adventure!
See the most popular apartments and homes in Seattle, WA
There are currently 3,468 Studio Apartments in Seattle with rent ranges from $594 to $5,050 with an average price of $1,633.
Today's rental pricing for One Bedroom Apartments in Seattle ranges from $600 to $9,645 with an average monthly rent of $2,253.
The monthly rent prices of Two Bedroom Apartments currently available in Seattle range from $600 to $25,100. Today's average rental price for Two Bedrooms here is $3,166.
There are currently 832 Three Bedroom Apartments listings available in Seattle on ApartmentHomeLiving.com. The pricing ranges from $1,099 to $41,985 - averaging $4,749 for the location.
The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.
Written by: Sharon Stallings
I'm Sharon, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Seattle, Washington. My husband, two children, and I moved to West Seattle in 1995.
Written by: Sharon Stallings
I'm Sharon, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Seattle, Washington. Whether you're new to Seattle or grew up here, the neighborhood where you live makes a huge difference while attending college.
Written by: Sharon Stallings
I'm Sharon, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Seattle, Washington. We're blessed to live in Seattle, affectionately known as the Emerald City.
Written by: Sharon Stallings
Greetings! I’m Sharon, your local Seattle expert at ApartmentHomeLiving.com. If you’re looking for short-term rentals, I can help you make an informed choice.
Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.
Other than tax professionals, I can’t think of anyone who looks forward to tax season. For everybody else, April is a stressful month to collect information and meet deadlines.
Written by: Lauren Harrington
Renting your next home can feel thrilling and overwhelming at the same time.
Written by: Bob Mallory
Packing up everything you own to move is so stressful for many that ending your apartment lease can feel like a small or unimportant task. Ending your lease involves more than simply turning over your keys on the last day.
Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.
Given the high costs for housing, I have found that many people are looking for a roommate to share expenses. These arrangements can increase opportunities for more desirable and larger spaces.
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