Average Rent in Seattle, WA (2026)

Typical asking rent in Seattle is $2,279. Across the 22 ZIP codes with data it runs from $1,867 to $2,810, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of July 2026.

Median rent
$2,279
Average rent
$2,272
Lowest ZIP
$1,867
Highest ZIP
$2,810

Rent by ZIP code in Seattle

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
98199King County$2,810+23%
98121King County$2,700+18%
98101King County$2,592+14%
98109King County$2,509+10%
98106King County$2,433+7%
98117King County$2,421+6%
98136King County$2,368+4%
98116King County$2,364+4%
98115King County$2,360+4%
98108King County$2,316+2%
98107King County$2,295+1%
98112King County$2,263-1%
98103King County$2,254-1%
98126King County$2,125-7%
98122King County$2,086-8%
98119King County$2,082-9%
98104King County$2,075-9%
98102King County$2,064-9%
98105King County$2,037-11%
98118King County$2,007-12%
98144King County$1,962-14%
98125King County$1,867-18%

Rent by bedroom count in Seattle

Zillow's index above blends every unit size into one number. For a bedroom level view, these are HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for King County. They include utilities and sit near the 40th percentile of the market, so treat them as the low side of what a typical unit lists for. King County uses Small Area FMRs, and the two bedroom figure runs from $2,220 to $3,630 depending on the Seattle ZIP code.

Unit sizeFY2027 Fair Market RentChange from FY2026
Studio$2,091+0.8%
1 bedroom$2,180+1.6%
2 bedroom$2,549+1.9%
3 bedroom$3,324+1.6%
4 bedroom$3,954+2.8%

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Updates when HUD publishes a new fiscal year.

Is rent going up or down in Seattle?

Typical rent across King County is $2,343 as of August 2026. That is up 1.7% from a year earlier and up 18.2% over five years.

YearTypical rent, King CountyChange
2021$2,084+15.0%
2022$2,167+4.0%
2023$2,199+1.5%
2024$2,267+3.1%
2025$2,311+2.0%
2026 (through August)$2,343+1.4%

Zillow Observed Rent Index for the county, all home types, last published month of each year. Each row is compared with the end of the year before it.

Seattle rent questions

What is the average rent in Seattle, WA?
Typical asking rent in Seattle is $2,279 a month as of July 2026, across 22 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $1,867 to $2,810.
How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Seattle?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in King County is $2,549 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $2,180 and a three bedroom is $3,324. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
Is rent going up or down in Seattle?
Rent is rising. Typical rent in King County is $2,343 as of August 2026, up 1.7% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Seattle?
ZIP 98125 has the lowest typical asking rent in Seattle at $1,867 a month, compared with $2,279 for the city overall.
How much income do you need to rent in Seattle?
Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Seattle rent of $2,279, that is about $6,837 a month, or $82,044 a year. This is a common screening rule of thumb, and individual landlords set their own.

How to use these numbers

These are Zillow Observed Rent Index values, a smoothed measure of typical asking rent for single family homes, condos, and apartments in each ZIP code. They describe what units are listed for, not what any specific unit will get. Condition, bedroom count, and the exact block all move the number.

If you are underwriting a purchase, use the ZIP figure rather than the city median, and then verify against live listings for the same bedroom count before you commit. Seattle sits in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area.

Other Washington cities

Would a rental in Seattle cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Seattle median rent of $2,279 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.