Seattle isn’t generally considered an affordable place to live — however, there are some pockets of the Puget Sound area where renters can find affordable housing.
According to a report from CashNetUSA, renters in Mercer Island (specifically, the 98040 ZIP code) only need to spend 19.17% of their annual income on rent, based on the average rent as a percentage of the area’s median household income. That makes it the most affordable rental neighborhood in the state. For reference, any proportion over 30% is considered “cost-burdened,” according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Zooming in on Seattle proper, Magnolia/South Magnolia (98199) is the most affordable ZIP code in the city, with renters only needing to spend 19.49% of their income on rent. That ZIP is followed by Loyal Heights/Ballard (98117) at 20.1%, the Mann/Central Area (98112) at 20.93%, North Admiral/West Seattle (98116) at 21.39% and Bryant (98115) at 21.86%.