Moving to Seattle: A Complete Guide

If you’re preparing to move to Seattle, be ready to experience skyscraping city life surrounded by beautiful islands, luscious forests, towering mountain ranges, and the most stunning waters. In the heart of Puget Sound and the Evergreen State, it’s so easy to experience all Washington has to offer. By outlining your move to Seattle, it can all go as planned.

At U-Haul, whether you’re moving along the I-5 or from across the world, we know how to help. U-Haul has been moving people to Seattle for more than 80 years, and smart moving consists of the right planning and tools to get the job done.

In this guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about moving to Seattle. From budgeting, planning, and moving to your new city.

Cost of Living Overview

Seattle is home to a substantial portion of the growing tech industry; this also comes with a significantly higher cost of living. Here is what you need to know:

Housing: Rent will be your biggest expense by far. In Downtown Seattle expect to pay at around $2,000 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. Around Wallingford and north of the University of Washington, prices drop to around ~$1,700.

Utilities and Food: Expect to run the heater in the winter. With recent temperature increases during the summer, the average utility bill will run you around $100 a month for electricity, gas, and water. Food can run between $300-$500 for one person, depending on how often you eat out.

Transportation: Seattle’s streets are narrow and hilly, meaning parking is exceedingly rare. If you drive, some parking garages can cost from $150 to $300 a month for one vehicle. Most people use trains, subways, or buses that run throughout the city. One thing that Seattle has different from most cities is its extensive Ferry system, with destinations like Bremerton, Bainbridge, and Vashon Island.

Choosing the Right Neighborhood

The Seattle metro area is a blessing for those wanting to live any kind of lifestyle. From a lively downtown scene full of music and dancing, to a suburban landscape surrounded by water, trees, and hiking trails, there is something for everyone.

Young Professionals: Consider Downtown Seattle, Sodo, Capitol Hill and Central District when moving to Seattle. This is where the nightlife and music scenes are most prevalent, along with the amazing food at Pike Place Market. With public transportation options, a car may not be necessary.

Families or Long-Term Residents: If it’s a quiet suburban neighborhood you want, consider Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond, or Kirkland. It's around a 30-minute commute to Downtown Seattle and feels like you can still enjoy city life without having to deal with a daily fast paced environment.

Students & Other Budget-Minded Movers: A low-cost option south of Seattle is Burien. It’s only a 30-minute drive into Seattle and a safe area as well. For students, the University of Washinton has many cheap housing options available right next to campus.

Navigating the Seattle Housing Market

Moving to The Emerald City can seem intense, with countless islands and areas to choose from, but be sure to widen your search, with public transportation and “park and ride” lots all around, you’ll never feel like you’re far away from something exciting.

Types of Housing: A little over half of all residents choose apartments living in Seattle, with larger suburbs being 20-30 miles outside of the city and on islands. Living with roommates will also save you money in the steep housing market.

Make sure to get an Apartment with Air Conditioning: Most apartments and houses in Seattle that were built before the temperature increases tend to not have air conditioning and can make living in the city uncomfortable.

Planning the Move

When to Start Looking for Housing: Start looking for housing three to four months before your projected move-in date. This can give you time to do extensive research on neighborhoods, schools, libraries, and apartment buildings. Doing this can save you a lot of time, money, and stress.

Decluttering your Current Space: Two to three months before moving out, go through all your clothes, kitchen, bathroom, living, and bedroom deciding what you need before you start putting things into boxes. You might surprise yourself by finding something you never use, and by getting rid of things months before a move will reduce stress and can even get you some money back.

What Truck Should I Rent: For the narrow streets, stick a truck less than 20 feet, and if you are transporting a front wheel drive vehicle, take a Tow Dolly instead of an Auto Transport as a Tow Dolly is easier to maneuver in tight spaces.

When to get Moving Supplies: Start putting non-essentials into boxes a month before your move and plan outfits that can be re-worn. If most of your laundry is done before the move, think of all the great outfits you can show off in your new city!

Life After the Move

Get used to the weather: When most people hear about Seattle, they probably automatically think of rain and overcast weather. While it does rain a lot in Seattle, nearly half of the year, it’s just a light drizzle. Bring a good pair of rain boots, an umbrella, and a raincoat. But be prepared for the summer, as it can get to triple digits!

Understand the Transit: From ferries, trains, subways, and buses, the transit system can be large and daunting at first. This guide on the Sound Transit page is a great resource. It has a trip planner, three different ways to purchase fare tickets, and multiple languages to choose from, so you can rest easily.

Get a Coffee: Being the origin of world-famous Starbucks Coffee, Seattle is the coffee capital of the nation. Coffee shops and cafés are wonderful places to socialize and meet new people.

Find Relaxing Spots: Seattle moves quickly, but there are aton of areas to rest and relax. The Seattle Public Library has tons of libraries across Puget Sound. Central Library is a massive and beautiful building with tons of amenities.

Explore the Nightlife, Sports, and Music Scene: There are tons of bars, clubs, and venues in Seattle. In Capitol Hill there are four nightclubs all within a two-block radius. Check out the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture, and do not forget the Seattle Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders, Storm, and Kraken!

Make Moving Easier to Seattle with U-Haul

Essential Moving Supplies: U-Haul makes moving easier by providing Moving Box Kits to cover all that you need. If you need any more boxes, tape and supplies then head to our Moving Boxes and Supplies page where you can find all you need.

Picking the Right Size of Truck: Depending on how much stuff you have, it will determine the size of truck and trailers you need. For most of Seattle, you’ll find one-bedroom apartments between 500 and 700 square feet, a 10 or 15 foot truck would be perfect.

What to do if There is too Much Stuff: U-Haul provides 20 self-storage locations in and around the Seattle area, all of which are along major highways, ensuring a quick trip to get what you need.

The Benefit of U-Box: Due to the narrow nature of Seattle streets, U-Box Containers may be exactly what you need. Just pack your things at home and our team will pick up the U-Box and deliver it to your new home on the exact day you need it.

The Heavy Lifters: Got something that is too wide and heavy? That’s where Moving Help comes in! U-Haul connects you with local moving companies to show up when you need them.