Is Seattle worth living in?
The city is home to a thriving arts and culture scene, a wide range of outdoor activities, and a diverse population that offers a rich tapestry of experiences and perspectives. For those who are willing to pay the price, living in Seattle can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition broke down what people need to earn hourly at their jobs in order to live in parts of Western Washington. Here's a breakdown by a few areas: Seattle metro: $40-$60 per hour. Snohomish County: $33-$40 per hour.
Seattle, Washington, is a beautiful city with a lot to offer. It's also one of the most expensive places in the United States to live in. The cost of living in Seattle is about 54% higher than the national average, and that's going to impact your budget.
Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Los Angeles, CA. You would need around 7,129.5$ in Los Angeles, CA to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 7,700.0$ in Seattle, WA (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living ...
Seattle is a city that offers a unique blend of opportunities and challenges. While the city boasts major draws that make the Emerald City a great place to live, its cons like high cost of living, rainy weather, traffic congestion, and earthquake risk are also important factors to consider.
Seattle was clearly the most anxious metro among those surveyed, a full 5 percentage points higher than No. 2, Phoenix, at 54%. San Francisco had the third-highest percentage, at around 52%. Dallas was the least stressed-out metro, with a little less than 45% of adults reporting feelings of anxiety.
SEATTLE — $100,000 in Seattle amounts to roughly $49,000 after adjusting for taxes and cost of living, a SmartAsset report says.
The most affluent 20% of Seattle households — roughly 69,000 of the city's 344,600 households — had an average income of $345,000 in 2020.
A good salary in Seattle, WA is anything over $65,000. That's because the median income in Seattle is $65,000, which means if you earn more than that you're earning more than 50% of the people living in Seattle. The average salary in Seattle is $75,725. A good hourly wage in Seattle is $31.25 per hour.
The cost of living in Los Angeles, CA is 5.5% higher than in Seattle, WA. You would have to earn a salary of $63,314 to maintain your current standard of living. Employers in Los Angeles, CA typically pay 1.7% more than employeers in Seattle, WA.
Do you need a car in Seattle?
The real question though: do you really need a car to get around Seattle? Answer: No. You can absolutely get around downtown, most of the metro area, and even some of the suburbs without a car. Public transit downtown and from the airport is easy.
The cost of living in New York, NY is 29.4% higher than in Seattle, WA. You would have to earn a salary of $77,661 to maintain your current standard of living. Employers in New York, NY typically pay 6.5% more than employeers in Seattle, WA.
Seattle's home prices are where San Francisco was 15 years ago. And based on historical cost increases, at this rate it will take nearly 20 years to reach San Francisco's current average price of nearly $1.2 million per home.
You would need around 8,863.1$ in San Francisco, CA to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 7,700.0$ in Seattle, WA (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax).
The cost of living in Seattle, WA is 21.7% higher than in Chicago, IL. You would have to earn a salary of $73,004 to maintain your current standard of living. Employers in Seattle, WA typically pay 4.6% more than employeers in Chicago, IL.
In fact, Seattle is the seventh-happiest city in the nation, according to WalletHub's 2022's Happiest Cities in America report.
An impressive 99% of Seattle residents can walk to a park within 15 minutes and 97% can walk to a downtown bus in that time, according to Henry's calculations, based on 2020 census data. Restaurants are within range for 91% and coffee shops for 90% of the population.
When considering moving to Seattle, the access to nature is possibly the biggest draw. I think nature is a big reason so many people choose to live in the Pacific Northwest, in general. Seattle is a mere two-hour drive from all three of Washington's breathtaking national parks.
With Seattle's northern latitude, short winter days and gray, gloomy weather, people who live here are more at risk for developing SAD. While SAD is a form of depression, which is different from anxiety, it's important to note that the two often coexist: If you have one, you're more likely to have the other.
Friendship increases your lifespan, reduces inflammation and stress, and boosts mental health. But making friends as an adult is hard because of busy schedules and less willingness to try new things. In Seattle, the Seattle Freeze, dark winters and introversion further make meeting new people difficult.
Are the people friendly in Seattle?
Newcomers to the area have described Seattleites as socioculturally apathetic, standoffish, cold, distant, and distrustful. People from Seattle tend to mainly interact with their particular clique in social settings such as bars and parties.
On $200K you'll live as well as the average family, plus have $6,000 extra in spending money after taxes each month. You'll be fine. How much money does an average person need to live comfortably in Seattle for an entire year if they have an average income or below (no home ownership)?
| Population | |
|---|---|
| Income & Poverty | |
| Median household income (in 2021 dollars), 2017-2021 | $105,391 |
| Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2021 dollars), 2017-2021 | $68,836 |
| Persons in poverty, percent | 10.0% |
Making $100,000 a year is not common in the U.S. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 15.3% of American households make more than $100,000.
Long told us that to be a 1 percenter in the U.S. in 2016, you had to earn more than $470,000. There were 9,245 of these households in Seattle in 2016. That's three times the national average. But to be even more elite — a top 1 percenter in Seattle — your household had to bring in more than $602,000.
In the Seattle metro area, including Tacoma and Bellevue, Washington, families making between $68,000 and $203,000 are considered middle class.
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Income level - Low Income Public Housing.
| Number in Household | 30% AMI | 80% AMI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $27,200 | $66,750 |
| 2 | $31,050 | $76,250 |
| 3 | $34,950 | $85,800 |
| 4 | $38,800 | $95,300 |
It is possible to live in Seattle, WA on a post-doc salary less than $50,000, but it may be challenging depending on your lifestyle and expenses. Seattle is known for having a high cost of living, particularly in terms of housing costs, which can be a significant expense for many people.
The study used the 50-30-20 budgeting rule to represent "comfortability," which divides income into three buckets: 50 percent of income being spent on necessities, 30 percent set aside for discretionary expenses, and 20 percent put toward savings. To live comfortably in Seattle: Income needed: $72,092.
The average annual household income in Seattle is $144,955, while the median household income sits at $105,391 per year. Residents aged 25 to 44 earn $122,089, while those between 45 and 64 years old have a median wage of $119,357.
Why are Californians moving to Seattle?
Affordable Housing Options
This is one of the reasons why so many California residents flock to Washington. Considering the high cost of living in California, people can find much more affordable real estate in parts of Washington including Spokane, Tacoma, Olympia, and even some of Seattle's suburbs.
Cities where the minimum wage is highest—including New York City, Seattle and San Francisco—have high real-estate costs that can also influence prices in those markets. McDonald's is different. The company controls the real estate used by its franchisees and charges them based on a percentage of their sales.
Seattle's high cost of living is due to the high demand and low supply of housing. With a booming population and influx of tech workers, the competition for housing has become fierce, driving up prices.
Seattle is known for its coffee culture and breathtaking nature. The Emerald City offers a full-on city with skyscrapers and must-see landmarks sandwiched between cascade mountains, lakes and the glory of the Pacific Northwest.
For most visitors, the best area to stay is downtown Seattle (and near Pike Place Market). Downtown is where most of Seattle's best hotels, top restaurants, attractions, and shopping are located – all within an area dense, compact, and walkable.
Yes, you can walk downtown Seattle. It will be very enjoyable for you, just know that many of the streets have gradual inclines. Not as bad as San Francisco streets but very few of them are a flat. So wear comfortable shoes and take your time.
The median rent price in Seattle, WA May 2023 is $2,167.
The cost of living in Seattle, WA is 25.4% higher than in Austin, TX. You would have to earn a salary of $75,227 to maintain your current standard of living. Employers in Seattle, WA typically pay 12.2% more than employeers in Austin, TX.
Seattle, WA Housing Market
The median listing home price in Seattle, WA was $800K in April 2023, trending down -3% year-over-year. The median listing home price per square foot was $573. The median home sold price was $812.5K.
That won't help buyers. The new year will bring Seattle a new housing market, one without the runaway prices and jaw-dropping bidding wars, yet still difficult for anyone but the region's wealthiest shoppers.
Is Seattle or San Francisco a better place to live?
If you're looking for a lower cost of living, Seattle is likely best for you. Both cities have thriving tech industries and strong job prospects. However, the median housing price in San Francisco remains 50% above Seattle.
The short answer: Seattle is extremely unlikely to build its way to significantly lower home prices. More, and therefore denser, home construction could help ease prices. But not increasing home construction all but guarantees prices will keep climbing.
Seattle, though at sea level on Puget Sound, is approximately 100 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. These geographic factors play a significant role in the climates of both cities. Yes and No. Seattle Winters are definitely colder than San Francisco.
The cost of living in Washington, DC is 6.2% higher than in Seattle, WA. You would have to earn a salary of $63,695 to maintain your current standard of living. Employers in Washington, DC typically pay 0.9% more than employeers in Seattle, WA.
Among the 10 most expensive places to live in the U.S. (Seattle ranked eighth), eight saw living costs drop compared with the average between 2020 and 2022.
The cost of living in Denver, CO is -12.6% lower than in Seattle, WA. You would have to earn a salary of $52,461 to maintain your current standard of living. Employers in Denver, CO typically pay -7.9% less than employers in Seattle, WA.
Seattle, Washington, is a beautiful city with a lot to offer. It's also one of the most expensive places in the United States to live in. The cost of living in Seattle is about 54% higher than the national average, and that's going to impact your budget.
Seattle nearly made it into the top 10 happiest U.S. cities, at 11th place. The Emerald City ranked high for emotional and physical well-being (7th) and income and employment (4th). Meanwhile, Tacoma ranked 96th overall. The list is based on 182 of the country's largest cities.
As a popular destination for high-income singles, new families and an eclectic array of Washington natives, Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the US today. With a booming economy, easy access to cultural activities and the great outdoors, Seattle is also a great place to retire.
Denver wins on weather, people, culture, traffic, skiing, mountains and shopping. Seattle wins on ocean & trees. The two cities are probably tied in terms of jobs/career, but it depends on your profession. Overall I was much happier living in Denver.
Is Seattle retirement friendly?
Although Seattle's cost of living and home prices are higher than the national average, Washington is tax-friendly for retirees. The Evergreen State has no state income tax, so retirees won't pay tax on their pensions, Social Security benefits or other retirement income.
Cities across the United States vary greatly in their environment, income, citizens' overall well-being and community. For 2023, California dominated the list of the happiest cities in America, while Fremont, California, topped the list for the second year in a row.
Finland: For the sixth year in a row, Finland is the world's happiest country, according to the World Happiness Report. Aleksanterinkatu (Aleksi Street) in Helsinki is pictured. 2. Denmark: The Nordic countries all perform well by the measures used to determine happiness.
Seattle is consistently ranked among the 10 best places to live in the United States by U.S. News, and for good reason. Not only is Seattle surrounded by lush evergreen forests, but the city is famous for being environmentally friendly. Plus, its residents earn above-average incomes.
According to a recent report from financial data site GoBankingRates, those in Seattle who make at least $186,063 per year are among the city's top 20% of income earners. Or, as the site likes to call it: “rich.”
Well-being measured factors like access to health care, food, and economic security. Washington worst score came in the ranking for affordability, considered 37th in the nation. Affordability accounted for overall cost of living, sales and property tax rates.
The average 65 year old living in Washington can expect to spend a total of $1,245,825 in retirement — more than in all but five other states. Life expectancy at age 65 in Washington is half a year longer than the national average and the cost of living is also higher — and both contribute to greater retirement costs.
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Study: Seattle is the No. 1 city in the US for single people.
| City | Portland, OR |
|---|---|
| Total Score | 60.32 |
| Economics | 149 |
| Fun & Recreation | 13 |
| Dating Opportunities | 10 |
The cost of living in Los Angeles, CA is 5.5% higher than in Seattle, WA. You would have to earn a salary of $63,314 to maintain your current standard of living.
Move over, Florida, a new locale ranks as the best state to retire in. Although in 2022 the Sunshine State was named the No. 1 state to retire in, Virginia has taken the top spot this year, according to personal finance website WalletHub's “2023′s Best States to Retire” study.
Which states not to retire in?
- Alaska. The worst state to retire in was Alaska. ...
- Hawaii. ...
- Nevada. ...
- New Mexico. ...
- Tennessee. ...
- Alabama. ...
- Louisiana. ...
- Maryland.
It is possible to live in Seattle, WA on a post-doc salary less than $50,000, but it may be challenging depending on your lifestyle and expenses. Seattle is known for having a high cost of living, particularly in terms of housing costs, which can be a significant expense for many people.