Seattle’s views put us in a romantic mood all year long. | Photo by @jstn.sight
With Seattle constantly growing and undertaking multiplehigh-profiledevelopments this year, we figured it was time to talk about the cost of planting some roots in the Emerald City.
The median household income in King County is $99,158 according to the US Census Bureau. State-wise, Washington is ninth in the country for median income at ~$77,006 per household.
The overall cost of living in Seattle is higher than the national average, and higher than the rest of the state.
In Seattle, the cost of healthcare is lower compared to other parts of the US. However, the cost of groceries, housing, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses in the city have higher average costs than other cities in Washington and the country overall.
Breaking down the numbers
Hypothetically speaking, if you live in a household that brings in $50,000 annually — according to experts — you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your monthly gross income on rent. Don’t worry, we did the math for you — your max monthly rent budget would be $1,250. The average monthly rent for an apartment in Seattle is $2,334 — putting you way over budget.
Take a look at the chart below to see how Seattle’s cost of living compares to that of Spokane.
Interested in seeing Seattle’s cost of living compared to cities in other states? We played around on nerdwallet’s cost of living calculator, where you can put in any city along with your current pre-tax household income to find out what other cities you could actually afford to live in.
Sam Hunt | Fri., Sept. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Washington State Fair, Puyallup | $141+ | The “Body like a Back Road” country artist is touring with his new single “Water Under the Bridge.” 🎶
Home Brewing and Tasting Class | Fri., Sept. 16 | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Victrola, 310 E. Pike St. | Free | Learn how to make the perfect cup of coffee at home + how to talk about the flavor notes like a pro. ☕️
“The Hitchcock Hotel” | Fri., Sept. 16 | 9:45-11:15 p.m. | Can Can Culinary Cabaret | $49 | Delight yourself in sultry music, showgirls + a story involving a graveyard “handyman.” 💀
Saturday
Salmon Homecoming 2022 | Sat., Sep. 17 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Pier 62 | Free | The 30th Anniversary event shares the importance of the fish in our local communities with arts + crafts vendors, dancers, and cultural ceremonies. 🐟
Capitol Hill Modern Walking Tour | Sat., Sept. 17 | 12-3 p.m. | 119 Harvard Ave. E. | $25 | Learn all about the neighborhood’s mid-century modern homes in this tour led by a historian + a photographer.
Swipe Right: Improv Comedy | Sat., Sept. 17 | 8 p.m. | Fremont Abbey Arts Center | $15+ | Comedians riff + provide advice on audience members’ real-life online dating profiles. ❤️
Sunday
Brews ‘n Board Games | Sun., Sep. 18 | 1-8 p.m. | Snapshot Brewing, 8005 Greenwood Ave N. | Free | Grab a board game and enjoy an all-day happy hour.
Of Montreal | Sun., Sept. 18 | 7 p.m. | Neumos | $51+ | You might remember this indie electronica band from Tumblr’s early days.
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
Didn’t Tolkien write something about this? Former Seahawks running backShaun Alexander will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor on Sun., Oct. 16. Alexander, who played for the Hawks between 2000-2007, is the only player in team history to receive league MVP honors. 🏈
Traffic
Plan ahead, Eastsiders. Parts of I-405 near Exit 9will close intermittently between now and Sun., Sept. 18 while construction crews complete repairs on a damaged culvert. This section of the interstate will close completely between 11 p.m. tonight and 10 p.m. Sat., Sept. 17. 🚧
To avoid extra stress on traffic caused by the I-405 repairs, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has canceled expansion-joint repair work on I-5 in SODO this weekend. Construction will be limited to the Columbian Way/West Seattle Bridge off ramp. (Seattle Times)
Development
The Seattle City Council’s Public Assets and Homelessness Committeereceived a proposal recently from the Downtown Seattle Association for Third Avenue downtown. The plan includes a street configuration that would widen sidewalks and create more space for amenities like improved crosswalks. (Capitol Hill Blog)
Drink
In honor of National Cider Month in October, Schilling Hard Cider will host a month-long series of events. Customers can enjoy tastings of limited release ciders, a special dinner with “Top Chef” alum Sara Hauman, and collaborations with other notable cideries. Tickets are on sale now for the Sat., Oct. 8 Seattle dinner with Sara.
Ranked
According to recently released US Census data, Seattleranks second in the US for the number of remote workers — falling just behind Washington D.C. Between 2019-2021, the number of work-from-homers rose from 36,000 to 205,000 — accounting for 47 percent of the city’s working population. 💻 (Seattle Times)
Edu
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal recently announced a proposal to provide free school meals to students across Washington. The proposal, which will be introduced during next year’s legislative session, is meant to replace federal waivers that were introduced over the past two years.🍎 (Seattle Weekly)
Environment
Well, aren’t you just glowing? North Seattle Collegerecently earned a STARS(Sustainability Tracking Assessment, and Rating System)silver rating. To receive the honor, colleges must show how they’ve incorporated sustainable practices in areas like academics, operations, and administration. ⭐️ (Seattle Medium)
Celebrate
We want to wish a happy birthday (on Sunday) to our teammate Emily, 6AM City VP of content. Happy birthday, Emily! 🎉
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Town Hall will host 10 different authors during its inaugural festival. | Photo by Joe Mabel
Bust out those reading glasses — Town Hall Seattle will host its inaugural Writers Festival this weekend (Fri., Sept. 16- Sat., Sept. 17).
The two-day event — the city’s first lit fest in 18 years — showcases authors across a wide variety of genres, from spooky tales to educational nonfiction. Here are some speaker highlights:
Keynote speaker: Siddhartha Mukherjee | Fri., Sept. 16 | 6:30 p.m. | Siddhartha’s nonfiction piece “The Song of the Cell” looks at how our evolving understanding of life’s most basic building block has shaped medicine over centuries.
Joyce Carol Oates | Sat., Sept. 17 | 4:30 p.m. | The famous, award-winning author, playwright, and poet will discuss her suspenseful novel, “Babysitter.”
Leila Mottley | Sat., Sept. 17 | 3 p.m. | Leila’s novel “Nightcrawling” offers an alternative United States history when her main character becomes a witness to a massive scandal within the Oakland Police Department.
Tickets — which range from $30-250 — can be purchased on Town Hall’s website and are good for both in-person and live-streamed versions of the events.
Editor’s pick: I gotta say, I’m not really surprised by how the numbers turned out for Seattle’s cost of living. Even before inflation really kicked it up a notch this year, it was pretty crazy. All I can say is — good thing this city is so beautiful.
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