Cost of living in the Seattle Metro Area
3 counties across WA. Population: 4,021,467.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Seattle Metro Area
Average rent across the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Seattle Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Seattle Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Seattle Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Seattle Metro Area
The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area includes 3 counties. Sorted by population.
- Seattle WA$4,588/moPop2,262,713 Rent$2,293/mo Income$122,148/yrSeattle WA 2,262,713 $2,293/mo $122,148/yr $4,588/mo
- Tacoma WA$3,742/moPop924,106 Rent$1,673/mo Income$96,632/yrTacoma WA 924,106 $1,673/mo $96,632/yr $3,742/mo
- Everett WA$4,398/moPop834,648 Rent$2,293/mo Income$107,982/yrEverett WA 834,648 $2,293/mo $107,982/yr $4,398/mo
Compare counties in the Seattle Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Seattle Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Seattle Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area is approximately $4,354 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Seattle Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area is $2,151 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Seattle Metro Area?
Pierce County, WA is the most affordable county in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area at approximately $3,742 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Seattle Metro Area?
King County, WA is the most expensive county in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area at approximately $4,588 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Seattle Metro Area?
The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area covers 3 counties. The five largest by population are Seattle, Tacoma, Everett.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.