23 Pros and Cons of Living in Seattle in 2024

1. Pro: Surrounded by Nature

The number one reason to move to Seattle is the incredible natural surroundings. 

It’s easy to understand why Seattle is called the Emerald City and Washington state is called the Evergreen state. 

There’s a lot of green in the landscape!

Seattle sits on Puget Sound and is surrounded by mountains. The city is within easy driving distance of three national parks: Olympic, Mt Rainier, and North Cascades.

The city incorporates green spaces wherever it can, not just as parks but also as rooftop and building-side gardens.

2. Con: Rise in Wildfires

An unfortunate reality of living in Seattle is the possibility of wildfires. 

The area doesn’t get as much rain as you think. Dry summers leave the forests vulnerable to wildfires. 

Wildfires are a nuisance at best and a severe threat at worst when the smoke clogs the air and reduces visibility. 

Wildfire smoke makes living in Seattle uncomfortable if you have respiratory issues.

3. Pro: Perfect Summers

Seattle’s summers are ideal for adventuring outdoors. You couldn’t ask for better weather and fewer bugs.

Average high temperatures peak around 22°C (72°F) with lows dipping to 14°C (57°F) in the evenings.

The long daylight hours are perfect for hikes in the mountains, camping on the Olympic Peninsula, or exploring one of the nearby islands.

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4. Con: Dark Winters

Seattle’s amazing summers are countered by its dreary winters.

The temperatures aren’t the issue, bottoming out comfortably above freezing, around 4°C (39°F). Seattle stays reasonably warm for how far north it is.

It’s the short days and gray skies that really get old fast.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is common here, and one of the first things to buy when you move to Seattle is a quality SAD lamp. 

The SAD lamp is scientifically proven to help lift your mood through the long, dark days of winter in Seattle.

5. Pro: No State Income Tax

One of the most popular benefits of living in Seattle is that Washington state doesn’t tax income.

This appeals to a lot of would-be Seattle residents, particularly those that currently live in states with high income tax rates.

But don’t forget that federal income tax applies to everyone, regardless of where you live.

6. Con: High State Sales Tax

While Washington state doesn’t have an income tax, it has a higher state sales tax.

Seattle has its own local sales tax on top of the state sales tax, making for a whopping 10.25% sales tax on purchases made within the city limits.

That can be a big shock the first time you go to the store and are surprised by the bill. 

Savvy consumers drive to Oregon for larger purchases.

7. Pro: No Need for AC 

Seattle’s balmy temperatures are an asset to your pocketbook as well as your outdoor adventuring. 

You don’t need to run the air conditioning for most of the year. 

This will save you hundreds of dollars a year in utility costs.

A few weeks at the height of summer may call for AC, but otherwise, throw open the windows and let Mother Nature cool down the house.

8. Con: Expensive Housing Market

Like all west coast American cities, Seattle is not immune to the outrageously expensive and competitive housing market.

The city’s answer to the growing housing shortage is to build up instead of out. Building cranes clutter the skyline as new high-rise apartments are thrown up left and right.

That doesn’t mean the housing or rental market is becoming more affordable. 

In Seattle, homes are almost 20% higher than the national average, with an average home price of $800k USD.

9. Pro: Solid Job Market

Seattle is the tech hub of the West Coast, home to powerhouse companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook (now Meta).

These huge companies employ thousands of people in the Seattle area, and they all pay well.

The city’s unemployment rate hovers around 3%, similar to the current national average.

10. Con: High Cost of Living

A clear disadvantage of living in Seattle is the high cost of living. It’s not the worst in the US, but it’s consistently in the top 10.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the housing market is the biggest culprit for this, but healthcare costs are also to blame.

In general, things are more expensive in Washington, which is something to consider before you decide if living in Seattle is worth it for you.

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11. Pro: Plenty of Parks

Seattle takes pride in its title of “Emerald City”. 

Trees line many roads, gardens adorn rooftops, and I’ve heard that a park is within a 10-minute walk of any neighborhood in the city.

Whether you’re looking for a park with a playground to entertain the kids, a beach to sunbathe on, or just a grassy lawn for you and the pup to enjoy, Seattle has got you covered.

13. Pro: Thriving Art & Music Scene

One of the most popular reasons to live in Seattle is to experience the incredible arts scene.

Downtown Seattle is packed with art museums and installations, bookstores, theaters, and live music.

Music lovers know Seattle as the birthplace of grunge. You never know if you’re listening to the next big thing performing at a local venue.

Dale Chihuly’s glass sculptures are world-famous. The Museum of Pop Culture features funky exhibits in a modern building.

If you’re looking for an artsy community, then Seattle could be the place for you!

15. Pro: Foodie Culture

If you like seafood and/or Asian-inspired cuisines, then Seattle is foodie heaven for you!

Fusion cuisine is second only to fresh seafood. You’ll often find two or three different cuisines blended into one amazing superfood.

I’ve heard that it can be tough to find a good pizza or country cooking-type restaurant in Seattle. You’ll have to go to a regular chain restaurant for that.

16. Con: Rising Property Crime Rate

You might be wondering: Is it safe to move to Seattle? Yes, it’s safe to move to Seattle. 

Seattle has a rising crime rate, but it’s mostly property crimes, not violent crimes. All cities will have some crime, regardless of region.

Smash-and-grabs are the most common crime in Seattle, whether you’re parked on the street downtown or at an isolated trailhead elsewhere. Keep your car empty.

18. Con: High Rate of Homelessness

The high cost of living combined with the outrageous housing prices mean Seattle has a high homelessness rate.

Washington state is second only to California for the highest rate, and Seattle is behind only LA and NYC.

Homelessness comes with a lot of negative assumptions, but that isn’t always true or fair.

It doesn’t make Seattle a less desirable place to live. It’s just something to be aware of.

Regardless of the reason, tent cities are a common sight in Seattle while the governor works on funding and building more affordable housing.

19. Pro: Lack of Bugs and Severe Weather

Another bonus to living in Seattle: no hurricanes, no tornadoes, and few large bugs.

For such a green area, there are surprisingly few bugs to deal with when living in Seattle. Most residents have never seen a cockroach, and even mosquitoes are minimal.

Seattle doesn’t have the warm water to fuel hurricanes and rarely sees a tornado.

20. Con: Potential for Earthquakes

Seattle lies on a fault line and is subject to earthquakes like the rest of the west coast.

Earthquakes aren’t common here, but they have happened.

Mt Rainier is actually a volcano. If it ever decides to wake up and erupt, the glaciers on top will melt and flood Seattle. 

But geologists assure us that that is extremely unlikely to happen in our lifetimes. Earthquakes, however, are a realistic possibility for which you should be prepared.

21. Pro: Eclectic Culture

Seattle’s eclectic culture means you can usually find a group with similar interests, no matter how varied your interests are.

They’re very big on clubs and communities here, and it’s the fastest way to make friends when you move to Seattle.

Gamers thrive here, as do intellectuals, outdoors enthusiasts, artists, and many other groups that don’t usually share the same town.

The trick is finding your group.

I recommend attending a conference, like PAX West for gamers, or checking out a local community group to meet up with others.

22. Con: The Seattle Freeze

No, the Seattle Freeze has nothing to do with the weather. It’s actually the term given to Seattleites’ version of the cold shoulder.

It’s not that people who live in Seattle are unfriendly. It’s more that they don’t want to give you the time of day until you’ve “proven” you can handle Seattle for a few years.

It’s just a weird Seattle quirk that nobody really knows when it started or why.

When you first move to Seattle and are trying to make friends, don’t take it personally if every person you try to connect with gives you the cold shoulder. 

23. Pro: Coffee Capital of the US

I can’t talk about the pros and cons of living in Seattle without mentioning coffee. 

Seattle is the original home of Starbucks before it took over and could be found on nearly every corner in America.

While Starbucks claims the lion’s share of the coffee market, there are many local coffee shops with their own small-batch brew to satisfy coffee lovers. 

If you’re a habitual coffee drinker, then Seattle is the place for you.