Img: Wikimedia
Seattle may be best known for being the breeding grounds for 1990s grunge music legends Nirvana and Pearl Jam, but this city has so much more to offer. From a burgeoning arts and culture scene with over 140 theater companies to parks with a view of the entire city, there’s a reason Amazon houses its headquarters here.
The Emerald City is surrounded by natural beauty, with Mount Rainier acting as a backdrop to the skyline and the turquoise waters of the Puget Sound quietly lapping up on the city’s shores. The Seattle waterfront offers entertainment, incredible views, and some great dining options. Don’t forget that the University of Washington is located here, with its campus drawing thousands of new students to the city every year. Get to know Seattle through our moving guide!
Coût de la vie
Budgeting for your move can be complicated, so here’s some basic information about the average cost of living in Seattle to keep in mind.
- Rent prices: the average cost to rent a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,800 and a 2-bedroom is $2,390. These prices have remained steady, although they did drop very slightly from the previous year’s averages.
- Utilities: the average cost of utilities for a 915 square foot apartment is around $158, and internet services range from $45-$90.
- Transportation: monthly transit passes range from $75-$116 for adults, depending on distance traveled.
- Food costs: residents of Seattle spend roughly 13.6% of their household budget on food, slightly above the national average. Of this food budget, 58.3% is spent on meals at home, and 41.7 % is spent on dining out.
Seattle Neighborhoods
Img: Wikimedia
Each Seattle neighborhood offers something different for residents and visitors, but the one thing they all have in common? Character. Decide which one is right for you with this helpful neighborhood guide.
- Belltown: Young, trendy couples and singles live in this neighborhood. Its proximity to downtown is a major perk, and its walkability is through the roof. With the piers and water on its western side, Pike Place Market on the southern end, and plenty of shopping and restaurant options in the heart of it, Belltown is loaded with fun things to do. Just don’t forget your wallet.
- Eastlake: If you’re moving to Seattle with a boat, this hood might be the spot for you. Nestled along the eastern shores of Lake Union, Eastlake’s many piers and marinas allow for easy access to your boat when you want to take it out on the water. It also boasts waterfront dog-friendly parks in case your pup and you are just in the market for a good view.
- University District: Feeling youthful? This area is home to many University of Washington students, and the neighborhood reflects it. It’s filled with casual bars and food joints, as well as bookstores and quirky shops along the main thoroughfare, University Avenue.
- Lower Queen Anne: Just south of, and sharing a border with, Belltown, Lower Queen Anne is home to the iconic Seattle landmark, the Space Needle. You’ll also find the Museum of Pop Culture, the renowned Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, and the Seattle Repertory Theater. Centennial Park, a gorgeous 11-acre park spanning the waterfront, is also located here, and is the perfect place to picnic, check out the rose garden, or bike along the pedestrian path.
- Capitol Hill: Affordable and hip, Capitol Hill is one of the most popular neighborhoods for young professionals to live. The hood is the city’s self-proclaimed LGBTQ hub and boasts some beloved gay bars, like Unicorn. On a sunny day, you’ll find locals at Volunteer Park, a historic 48-acre public space offering trails, grassy fields, and a water tower you can climb for a view of the city.
Don’t Miss
Img: Flickr
If you’re a beer-lover make a beeline straight to Chuck’s Hop Shop where you’ll have the choice between 50 beers on tap and another 100+ beers available in bottles and cans. The place also hosts at least 1 food truck (sometimes 2!) every day, so you’ll be properly fed at Chuck’s. Watch a spectacular sunrise at Lower Kerry Park, just north of the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, where you’ll be treated to a view of the skyline as the sun sets on a beautiful day in Seattle. Stroll through Washington Park Arboretum on a fall day and enjoy the foliage in full swing. Love biking but hate congested streets? Bring your wheels to Bicycle Sundays and enjoy a stretch of Washington Blvd. closed off to motorized vehicles from 10am to 6pm. End your day with dinner and drinks at The Pink Door, a cozy, inviting restaurant with occasional live music and downright scrumptious Italian food. Oh, and there’s no sign; just look for the pink door!
Transportation
Img: Wikimedia
Traffic is notoriously terrible in Seattle, ranking among the top 10 cities in the U.S. with the worst traffic in a recent study. Luckily, there are a few public transit options used by locals. Residents take advantage of the Link train mostly to get to and from the airport; it also makes a few stops along the way between the University of Washington and Angle Lake, its final stop. The King County bus system offers more stops, more frequently than the Link, which explains why most commuters use the bus to get to work. Seattleites also love their bikes, and many travel via their own set of wheels.
Tips for Moving to Seattle
- Don’t: forget your raincoat. Seattle averages 37.13 inches of rainfall per year, with about 147 days seeing precipitation annually. All that rain helps the city landscape stay lush and green, though, so there are perks to those rainy days!
- Do: get out of the city and explore Mount Rainier National Park. This 369-square mile park is especially breathtaking in the spring when the wildflowers are in full bloom.
- Do: check out the professionals sports teams in Seattle. The Seahawks (NFL), Mariners (MLB), Sounders FC (MLS), Supersonics (NBA), Reign (NWSL), and Storm (WNBA) all call Seattle home. Plus, the University of Washington and Seattle Pacific University each boast 20 collegiate teams. It’s a sport-lover’s heaven!
- Don’t: rent based on an online ad without seeing the apartment in person. There are a lot of rental scams online, and you need to protect yourself. Rent with Zumper and put your worries at ease.
- Do: enjoy not one, but TWO Pride festivals. Held over two days on one weekend in June, PrideFest Capitol Hill and PrideFest Seattle Center celebrate the LGBTQ arts, culture, and community with parade and free events for all.
- Don’t: miss all these other great festivals that take place in the city throughout the year.
Seattle’s up-for-anything vibe means it’s a city that welcomes all types of people. From vibrant, college-town neighborhoods to art museums and theaters that, alone, make the move to Seattle worth it, this city has a little something for everyone. The walking trails, dog-friendly waterfront parks, and, of course, the short drive to Mt. Rainier National Park are just the beginning of the perks you’ll enjoy while living in the Emerald City. Start your apartment search today and get moving!
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