Cost of living, Seattle
111.1
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Seattle sits about 11.1% above national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- +11.1%
- Metro
- Seattle
- CBSA
- 42660
Seattle all-items RPP is 111.1 (2024), about 11.1% above US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $99,990 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Seattle
| Component | Seattle | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.1 | 100 |
| Goods | 104.0 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 151.3 | 100 |
| Other services | 106.8 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Seattle
| At US average | In Seattle |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $66,660 |
| $90,000 | $99,990 |
| $150,000 | $166,650 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (111.1 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Seattle?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is 111.1, versus a US average of 100 (+11.1%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $99,990 in Seattle for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Chief Executives , 2,060 OEWS emp. $370,000
- Physicians, All Other , 3,590 OEWS emp. $330,560
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 13,170 OEWS emp. $214,680
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 4,390 OEWS emp. $204,340
- Financial Managers , 8,500 OEWS emp. $185,550
- Sales Managers , 6,620 OEWS emp. $184,320
See methodology and disclaimer.