Bellevue beats Seattle for most expensive one-bedroom rent

If you’re looking for a one-bedroom apartment, you may want to stay clear from Bellevue, unless you like paying high prices.

According to apartment website Zumper, the Puget Sound region has the most expensive median rent in the state. But not all cities are as pricey as their neighbors.

Bellevue has the most expensive median one-bedroom rent in Washington state at more than $2,000. Kirkland was ranked second with more than $1,900, and Seattle is third, also at $1,900. The cheapest apartments in the region can be found in Marysville, Lakewood, and University Place.

At least, that’s the case for one-bedroom rent. Two-bedroom apartments are a bit different — Seattle tops that list.

Median rent in Washington cities, according to Zumper:

1. Bellevue: $2,000 ($2,350 for 2 bedroom)
2. Kirkland: $1,940 ($2,180 for 2 bedroom)
3. Seattle: $1,900 ($2,510 for 2 bedroom)
4. Redmond: $1,860 ($2,190 for 2 bedroom)
5. Bothell/Sammamish: $1,560 ($1,830; $1,850 for 2 bedroom)
6. Renton/Shoreline: $1,400 ($1,710; $1,680 for 2 bedroom)
7. Lynnwood: $1,390 ($1,700 for 2 bedroom)
8. Edmonds: $1,310 ($1,630 for 2 bedroom)
9. Kent: $1,300 ($1,500 for 2 bedroom)
10. Burien: $1,290 ($1,590 for 2 bedroom)
11. Tacoma: $1,210 ($1,470 for 2 bedroom)
12. Everett/Federal Way: $1,200 ($1,410; $1,470 for 2 bedroom)
13. Puyallup: $1,180 ($1,410 for 2 bedroom)
14. Auburn: $1,040 ($1,400 for 2 bedroom)
15. University Place: $1,030 ($1,290 for 2 bedroom)
16. Lakewood: $960 ($1,300 for 2 bedroom)
17. Marysville: $910 ($1,270 for 2 bedroom)

Zumper came to its conclusions by analyzing data from online apartment listings throughout the month of November 2018. The median one-bedroom price for Washington state was $1,263 during that same time.

Seattle region paying billions in rent

On a national scale, rent is up by $12.6 billion over the previous year. KIRO 7 reports that renters spent $504.4 billion in rent over 2018.

While Seattle isn’t paying the largest share of rent in the nation, it is contributing a considerable share. The Seattle region paid $9.8 billion in rent in 2018, according to reported numbers from real estate website Zillow and HotPads.

To put that in context, New Yorkers top the nation with $55.65 billion in paid rent in 2018. Los Angeles comes in second having paid $40.42 billion last year.