Seattle, Washington is among the most attractive places in the country with its bustling downtown area and friendly suburbs. Seattle’s population is 837,792 and it is a diverse city, with 18.5% of its population born in a foreign country.
Seattle is a young city, too, with an average age of 35. If you are a young professional, you will enjoy every bit of the city – over 40% of its population is between 20 and 39 years of age.
If Seattle is on your consideration list, it helps to have some specific details about the factors that will impact your daily routine – like the cost of living, transportation, and traffic, as well as the areas you might want to live in.
That is why we’ve compiled these pieces of information as well as resources as a guide to simplify your decision.
1. Cost of Living
The cost of living in Seattle brings more challenges and needs a high-paying job and budget-minded expertise to live, work, and play. Try to use our rent calculator to obtain an estimate of the amount to spend on housing. PayScale reported that the cost of living in Seattle is 49% more and housing is 94% more than the country’s average. Below is a look into the cost of things when relocating to Seattle, according to PayScale:
- Energy bill: $206.39
- Loaf of bread: $4.22
- Doctor’s visit: $137.50
- $3.47 for a gallon of gas
2. Housing Cost in Seattle
The average rent in the city is $1,397 for a 1-bedroom apartment and $1,742 for a 2-bedroom apartment. You need to earn at least an income of $50,292 per annum or $24 per hour to live without worries in a 1-bedroom apartment in Seattle. You will need to earn a minimum of $62,712 per annum or $30 per hour to live in a 2-bedroom apartment comfortably in the city. The average income in Seattle totals $92,263 according to Census Bureau in 2019. When compared, the average income is $62,843 in another part of Washington.
3. The Job Market in Seattle
To balance the costly housing market in Seattle, residents earn more than average incomes, making almost 12% more than a typical American. Hourly wages and annual salaries are both reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to be well more than national averages. This includes a drastically more-than-average minimum wage. Incomes for leading jobs have oncre4ased because of the rising demand for highly skilled and properly-educated workers in the burgeoning tech industry in Seattle.
4. Safest Places in Seattle
Finding a safe area is a major task for most people. Choose one of the top 3 safest places: Bryn Mawr located in the southeastern region of the city, the locations surrounding 45th Ave NE, and NE 95th Street up north, as well as Lake City, a neighborhood that is home to Meadowbrook, Cedar Park, Victory Heights, Mathews Beach, and Olympic Hills located in the northeast.
Neighborhood scouts mentioned that Seattle is safer than only 2 percent of other cities in the United States. However, that is just a top-level insight into safety in Seattle. If you wish to find out more about the crime rate in the city, check reports and data on the website of the Seattle Police Department.
5. Weather in Seattle
Even though Seattle residents scoff at umbrellas, but other people will want to have them on hand during the city’s gray, misty days. While Seattle does more rain than New York or Miami, the light rain leads to low totals. And prepare for overcast days to be the norm in that place, Since Seattle is the 3rd cloudiest city in the United States. Yet, temperatures in Seattle are not extremely hot or extremely cold.
6. There is no Income Tax
Even with the increasing cost of living in Seattle, you will save on the lack of income tax. The whole state of Washington doesn’t charge income tax. The bad side is that they have higher sales tax with 10% of a combined sales tax rate.
7. Getting around Seattle
If you want to drive in Seattle, prepare for a median commute time of 341 minutes. But with a lot of transportation options in the city, you may not need to drive your car. With the ever-growing Link Light Rail, you can travel to the University of Washington from the Angle Lake Station, with stops that run downtown and to the airport. You also can enter the King County Metro Transit, which stretches downtown and surrounding areas. If you wish to get around by train, you can make use of the app for the schedule. Seattle Streetcar is also available on the South Lake Union or First Hill Lines and the two can take you to so many places downtown.
If you wish not to stay on land, enter a ferry that is going to Vashon Island, Bainbridge Island, or Whidbey Island. You should go on bikes (and bike rentals such as Lime), with continuous updates to the current wide network of designated bike trails and roadways. Uber and Lyft as well as taxis are available in Seattle as well.
8. Food Scene in Seattle
Seattle has every food you can ever want, whether simple and cheap dishes to something more. You don’t have to feel pressured to put on heels or a tie, because casual are vibes. However, you need to book in advance because tables at the best restaurants in the city fill fast. Critics applaud the creative cuisine served at local establishments like Canlis, Copine L’Oursin, and Lark Restaurants.
9. Education in Seattle
Regardless of their interests, Seattle schools are loved by students of various ages. The city is rich in educational history. Almost 54% of the city’s population ages 25 and older are bachelor degree holders, high above the country’s average of 27.4%. Nearly 92% of locals are high school graduates, also passing the country’s average of 84.5%. The percentage of college and university graduates in Seattle, as well as literacy level, is more than that of any other big city in the U.S.
FAQ about Moving to Seattle
Is moving to Seattle the best?
There are lots of important reasons to move to Seattle. The city is not only surrounded by amazing evergreen forests, but Seattle is popular for being eco-friendly. Also, its residents earn more-than-average incomes. Seattle is widely known for being a rainy city.
How much does one need to comfortably live in Seattle?
The income required is $72,092. 50% for essentials: $36,046. 30% for private spending: $21,628
How much will my move to Seattle cost me?
The number reported that a family of 4 will spend nearly $3,845 per month to reside in Seattle (housing excluded), and expenses for just one person are around $1,000 per month (housing excluded).
Is residing in Seattle depressing?
People are living in Seattle will begin to feel depressed around this time of the year. The U.S. Census Bureau discovered in its survey that only about half of the adults in the Seattle area said that they were tackling depression in mid-November.
Is Chinatown in Seattle a safe area?
Make sure you are alert when visiting this place. We were in this location for around 1 hour to see China Town and it is a highly dangerous place as the place is filled with homeless people. You will mostly see only homeless people and some restaurants. The place is so dirty and everything is scattered.
Is Seattle a costly city to live in?
A report from rent.com shows that the cost of living in the city is 56.8 percent more than the U.S. average.
What salary in 2021 is good in Seattle?
Employees in the Seattle area are reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to have a median hourly wage of $32.91 in May last year, which is around 28% more than the national average. As of March this year (2021), the median salary for Seattle residents was reported by PayScale to be $81,000 per annum.
Conclusion
Seattle is a great city with so many opportunities for jobs and fun. The rain can be continuous, but the advantages of living in the city make up enough for the gloomy weather. Moving to Seattle is so easy with Pricing Van Lines. Reach out today to find out more about our extensive range of state to state moving services to Seattle.
