City profile
Seattle, WA cost of living
WA · BLS RPP 113.7
Latest official changes
Updates affecting Seattle, WA
Existing city metrics remain tied to the current verified ReloMath dataset until the owner flips the new data vintage. Use these rows as dated official-source change receipts.
Overall RPP
113.7
US = 100
Housing RPP
154.8
Housing component
Goods RPP
116.2
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$2,645/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Seattle, WA sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#4 of 67
+13.7 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+15.3
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#6 of 67
+1,039/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Seattle, WA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Seattle, WA metro.
Moved in
195,536
people · 124,256 households
Moved out
223,710
people · 128,846 households
Net
−28,174
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#58 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-28,070
median -104 people
Largest flow share
3% in / 3% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Los Angeles County, CA 4,936
- Thurston County, WA 4,678
- Kitsap County, WA 3,580
- Santa Clara County, CA 3,099
- Maricopa County, AZ 3,037
Where residents moved to
- Thurston County, WA 6,604
- Maricopa County, AZ 6,260
- Kitsap County, WA 5,008
- Los Angeles County, CA 3,425
- Spokane County, WA 3,265
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Seattle, WA?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Seattle, WA | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $56,850 | $50,000 x (113.7/100) |
| $75,000 | $85,275 | $75,000 x (113.7/100) |
| $100,000 | $113,700 | $100,000 x (113.7/100) |
| $125,000 | $142,125 | $125,000 x (113.7/100) |
| $150,000 | $170,550 | $150,000 x (113.7/100) |
| $200,000 | $227,400 | $200,000 x (113.7/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Washington has no state income tax. Sales tax 6.5%+local up to 10.5%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Seattle, WA?
- Seattle, WA has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 113.7 (US average = 100). It is 13.7% more expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Seattle, WA?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $113,700 in Seattle, WA to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Seattle, WA?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Seattle, WA is approximately $2,645 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Seattle, WA?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 195,536 people moved into the Seattle, WA metro and 223,710 moved out — a net loss of roughly 28,174 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Los Angeles County, CA.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Seattle, WA, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
Curated cost-of-living comparisons for Seattle, WA
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