Last updated
Average Rent in Downtown Seattle & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 20 apartment communities in Downtown Seattle, Seattle, WA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$3,173/mo
▲ +11.9% from last month
Lowest Available
$1,349/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
20
tracked daily
Units Listed
286
available now
Downtown Seattle vs Seattle, WA Average
Downtown Seattle is more expensive the Seattle, WA average by $320/mo (11%). The citywide average is $2,853/mo across all neighborhoods.
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Downtown Seattle?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Downtown Seattle is $3,173 per month across 20 apartment communities and 286 available units. Rents have increased $292 (11.9%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Stockbridge Apartment Homes starting at $1,349/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $1,987/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $2,949/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $4,461/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $7,280/mo.
Prices range from $1,349 to $12,917 per month. The most common price point is the $1,800 range, where 35 units are currently listed.
Downtown Seattle Rent Price History
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Downtown Seattle
Rent Prices by Apartment in Downtown Seattle
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockbridge Apartment Homes | $1,349/mo | $1,869/mo | 4 | 3.9 |
| The Mill at First Hill - Affordable Housing | $1,400/mo | $1,569/mo | 6 | 3.5 |
| Three20 Apartments | $1,502/mo | $1,868/mo | 9 | 4.5 |
| Cascade Apartments | $1,674/mo | $2,229/mo | 34 | 4 |
| AVA Capitol Hill | $1,675/mo | $2,106/mo | 8 | 4.4 |
| Pivot Apartments | $1,770/mo | $1,999/mo | 9 | 4.4 |
| Excelsior | $1,803/mo | $2,191/mo | 11 | 4.1 |
Google Search Trends for Downtown Seattle Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Downtown Seattle
What is the average rent in Downtown Seattle?
Is rent going up or down in Downtown Seattle?
What is the cheapest apartment in Downtown Seattle?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Downtown Seattle?
How many apartments are available in Downtown Seattle?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Downtown Seattle?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$127,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $3,173/mo.
Comfortable income
$152,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,349/mo), you need to earn at least $54,000/year.
Median household income in Downtown Seattle is $121,984 , about 20% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Downtown Seattle
Overall prices in Downtown Seattle runs above the national average by about 13% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 112.7, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Downtown Seattle's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $3,173 |
| Utilities | $652 |
| Groceries | $584 |
| Transportation | $1,553 |
| Healthcare | $758 |
| Other goods and services | $1,212 |
| Estimated total | $7,932/mo |
Population
741,440
Median household income
$121,984
Census median rent
$1,998/mo
Rent as % of income
27.4%
Median age
35.5
Mean commute
27 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Explore Downtown Seattle Apartments
Browse all 20 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.