Gee Scott rips Seattle rates: ‘You need to sell a kidney to afford rent’
May 22, 2025, 5:01 AM
An aerial view of Climate Pledge Arena and the Space Needle before the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament on March 22, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo: Steph Chambers via Getty Images)
(Photo: Steph Chambers via Getty Images)
Gee Scott, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, broke down a recent Zillow study that labeled Seattle as a city requiring roughly $90,000 to comfortably afford rent.
“Right now, renters in Seattle are looking at a staggering $90,000 per year that you need to make, just to afford the basics of housing,” Gee told “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. “All while rent has skyrocketed faster than incomes can keep up.”
In Seattle, renters must make $90,840 to afford rent payments, and keep housing costs under the recommended 30% of their total income.
Gee Scott believes Seattle rent rates are reaching desperate levels
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“Here in the Seattle area, it feels like you need to sell a kidney to afford rent,” Gee said.
Aside from high monthly rates, security deposits and advance rent payments have contributed to the uptick in total cost, according to Zillow.
“Some of the hardest working people are those who have three jobs, and the ones who have three jobs are barely making it,” Gee said.
Listen to the full conversation below:
Listen to “Seattle’s Morning News” with Charlie Harger and Manda Factor weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. on KIRO Newsradio. Subscribe to the podcast here.
