Downtown Seattle, Seattle, WA Rental Market Trends
Last updated: August 31, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Downtown Seattle is $2,594, a 0.85% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $2,616.
Studio Apartments at $1,607 offer the most budget-friendly option with 449 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.
One-bedroom apartments provide 685 square feet for $2,531, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-bedroom units at $3,775 offer 1,069 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,590 sq ft) for $6,183, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in Downtown Seattle, Seattle, WA
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $2,594 | 712 sq. ft. |
| Studio | $1,607 | 449 sq. ft. |
| 1 Bed | $2,531 | 685 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $3,775 | 1,069 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $6,183 | 1,590 sq. ft. |
Downtown Seattle, Seattle, WA rent trends
Rental prices in Downtown Seattle, Seattle, WA have decreased by 0.85% over the past year. The average rent moved from $2,616 to $2,594.
What's the typical rent budget in Downtown Seattle, Seattle, WA?
The largest share of rentals in Downtown Seattle, Seattle, WA (30%) fall between $3,000- per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.
Do most people rent or own in Downtown Seattle, Seattle, WA?
23,390 or 84% of the households in Downtown Seattle, Seattle, WA are renter-occupied while 4,293 or 16% are owner-occupied.
Most affordable neighborhoods in Downtown Seattle?
Mount Baker $1,329/month
Loyal Heights $1,512/month
Wedgwood $1,568/month
All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $2,253/month.Most expensive neighborhoods in Downtown Seattle?
Ravenna $2,766/month
Belltown $2,840/month
Seattle Central Business District $3,131/month
These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.Average Rent in Seattle, WA By Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Seattle Central Business District | $3,131 |
| Belltown | $2,840 |
| Ravenna | $2,766 |
| South Lake Union | $2,735 |
| Pike Market | $2,705 |
| Central Waterfront | $2,692 |
| Westlake | $2,638 |
| Pioneer Square | $2,552 |
| Green Lake | $2,531 |
| Crown Hill | $2,474 |
| East Queen Anne | $2,458 |
| Wallingford | $2,421 |
| Genesee | $2,376 |
| Columbia City | $2,295 |
| Maple Leaf | $2,291 |
| Hillwood | $2,279 |
| Fremont | $2,265 |
| South Delridge | $2,264 |
| North Admiral | $2,261 |
| First Hill | $2,258 |
| Lower Queen Anne | $2,252 |
| Madison Park | $2,251 |
| North City | $2,243 |
| West Queen Anne | $2,199 |
| Atlantic | $2,196 |
| Ballard | $2,190 |
| University District | $2,190 |
| West Woodland | $2,174 |
| Parkwood | $2,171 |
| North Queen Anne | $2,168 |
| North Delridge | $2,145 |
| Meridian Park | $2,127 |
| Fairmount Park | $2,118 |
| Minor | $2,114 |
| Haller Lake | $2,104 |
| Yesler Terrace | $2,103 |
| Stevens | $2,082 |
| Eastlake | $2,078 |
| Broadway | $2,073 |
| Greenwood | $2,057 |
| Junction | $2,053 |
| Roosevelt | $2,048 |
| Echo Lake | $2,030 |
| Roxhill | $2,024 |
| Portage Bay | $1,947 |
| High Point | $1,945 |
| Interbay | $1,943 |
| Richmond Highlands | $1,920 |
| Whittier Heights | $1,895 |
| Pinehurst | $1,883 |
| North Beacon Hill | $1,856 |
| Mann | $1,851 |
| North College Park | $1,834 |
| Brighton | $1,813 |
| Central Des Moines | $1,794 |
| International District | $1,789 |
| Olympic Hills | $1,769 |
| Broadview | $1,757 |
| Cedar Park | $1,750 |
| Bitter Lake | $1,733 |
| South Des Moines | $1,673 |
| Ballinger | $1,644 |
| Victory Heights | $1,622 |
| Wedgwood | $1,568 |
| Loyal Heights | $1,512 |
| Mount Baker | $1,329 |
Seattle | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Atlantic is 1% higher than in Ballard
Atlantic rent is 15% lower than Seattle average
Ballard rent is 16% lower than Seattle average
Where this data comes from
The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.
Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Downtown Seattle apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.
Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.