Can you afford Seattle?
No state income tax plus top-quartile tech salaries; the cost is grey winters and steep housing.
At a glance
Four scenarios, run for you
| Scenario | Take-home/mo | Costs/mo | Left over | Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, $60k, 1-bed centre | $4,195 | $4,162 | $33 | 41 | tight |
| Single, $100k, 1-bed centre | $6,575 | $4,162 | $2,413 | 95 | comfortable |
| Couple, $140k, 1-bed centre | $8,885 | $5,905 | $2,980 | 90 | comfortable |
| Family of four, $180k, 3-bed outer | $11,184 | $12,867 | -$1,683 | 17 | not viable |
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FAQ
Frequently asked
What income do you need to live comfortably in Seattle?
On our scoring, "comfortable" means keeping at least 25% of take-home pay after all living costs. For a single adult in a central one-bedroom that needs roughly $82,000 gross a year in Seattle.
Can a family of four live in Seattle on $180,000?
You would be short 1,683 USD every month at this lifestyle level.
Is $100,000 a good salary in Seattle?
2,413 USD a month left over — 37% of take-home pay. Housing takes 31% of it. That scores 95/100 on our affordability scale — "comfortable".