Overall
111.1
+11.1 above avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Cost-of-living indicators for Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities, overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 111.1
- Overall RPP
- #7
- of 387 metros
- 151.3
- Rents RPP
- $90K
- $100K national buys
Seattle ranks #7 of 387 U.S. metros by cost, and its overall price index has risen 2.0 points since 2008.
- rising since 2008
- similar cost to Urban Honolulu
The verdict
Seattle is more expensive than 98% of U.S. metros, an overall cost index of 111.1, 11.1% above the national average, led by rents at 151.3.
- top 2%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 104.0
- goods RPP, tradable items
- 92.8
- services RPP, labor-priced
- $101K
- local median income, national buying power
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $89,982 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $111,133.
What the Numbers Mean for Seattle
Seattle ranks #7 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it among the priciest quarter of U.S. metros. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 111.1, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is 11.1% pricier than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Seattle's most and least expensive categories - rents at 151.3 versus services at 92.8 - is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $89,982 inside Seattle, while a household needs roughly $111,133 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 151.3 - 51.3% above the national average, so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Seattle's overall index has risen by 2.0 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 104.0 and services at 92.8, meaning everyday spending in Seattle is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Seattle vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
111 Top 2% higher than 98% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities · 2024
Seattle cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category, 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
151.3 RPP
- Services
Services
92.8 RPP
- Overall
Overall
111.1 RPP
- Goods
Goods
104 RPP
What this shows Seattle's gap from the national average is led by rents at 151.3. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing, where Seattle's cost comes from
Metros near Seattle's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 105.2, rents 171.1). Seattle is cheaper than its peers on both housing and goods. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Price Index Summary
Goods
104.0
+4.0 above avg
Services
92.8
-7.2 below avg
Rents
151.3
+51.3 above avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$111,133
in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$55,567
$75,000 nationally
$83,350
$125,000 nationally
$138,916
$150,000 nationally
$166,700
$200,000 nationally
$222,266
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 2.0 points over this period. The largest single-year move was in 2014, when the index jumped 2.3 points from the year before, a bigger swing than the full 2008-2024 change.
Seattle overall RPP, 2008-2024
Every year on record, national average = 100
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.1 |
| 2009 | 108.5 |
| 2010 | 106.4 |
| 2011 | 106.1 |
| 2012 | 105.3 |
| 2013 | 105.2 |
| 2014 | 107.5 |
| 2015 | 107.9 |
| 2016 | 110.2 |
| 2017 | 112.1 |
| 2018 | 110.5 |
| 2019 | 112.5 |
| 2020 | 113.0 |
| 2021 | 114.5 |
| 2022 | 114.0 |
| 2023 | 112.7 |
| 2024 | 111.1 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA's index of 111.1.
Other WA Metros
What this means for Seattle
How to read Seattle's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay, a $100K national salary spends like about $89,982 in Seattle. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 151.3 (51.3% above average) - the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $112,594; adjusted for Seattle's price level that is about $101,315 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Seattle head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown, not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA? ▼
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 111.1, meaning it is 11.1% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 104.0, services at 92.8, and rents at 151.3. It ranks #7 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $111,133 in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA. Conversely, $100K earned in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA has the purchasing power of $89,982 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA? ▼
Rents in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA are indexed at 151.3, which is 51.3% above the national average. This is significantly higher than typical U.S. rents.
Is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA's overall cost index changed by +2.0 points (from 109.1 to 111.1). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What costs the most in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA? ▼
The priciest category in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is rents at 151.3, 51.3% above the national average. The most affordable category is services at 92.8, 7.2% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Urban Honolulu, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA's 111.1.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) - the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) - the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) - the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) - wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
Every figure on PlainCost is rendered directly from BEA Regional Price Parity source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on BEA Regional Price Parity source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, our changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Rankings measure the published cost-of-living index only; we don't recommend where to live or rate any metro's quality of life.