Rent Tracker
Rent Inflation in Seattle, WA
The average asking rent in Seattle, WA is $2,208/month as of 2026-04. That is +1.5% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) | zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$2,208/mo
as of 2026-04
Year-over-Year Change
+1.5%
24-Month Rent Trend
Monthly ZORI index values for Seattle, WA.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04 | $2,208 | +0.59% |
| 2026-03 | $2,195 | +0.41% |
| 2026-02 | $2,186 | +0.23% |
| 2026-01 | $2,181 | -0.05% |
| 2025-12 | $2,182 | -0.50% |
| 2025-11 | $2,193 | -0.41% |
| 2025-10 | $2,202 | -0.41% |
| 2025-09 | $2,211 | -0.32% |
| 2025-08 | $2,218 | +0.00% |
| 2025-07 | $2,218 | +0.45% |
| 2025-06 | $2,208 | +0.82% |
| 2025-05 | $2,190 | +0.64% |
| 2025-04 | $2,176 | +0.65% |
| 2025-03 | $2,162 | +0.70% |
| 2025-02 | $2,147 | +0.66% |
| 2025-01 | $2,133 | +0.28% |
| 2024-12 | $2,127 | -0.33% |
| 2024-11 | $2,134 | -0.47% |
| 2024-10 | $2,144 | -0.56% |
| 2024-09 | $2,156 | -0.32% |
| 2024-08 | $2,163 | +0.05% |
| 2024-07 | $2,162 | +0.51% |
| 2024-06 | $2,151 | +0.75% |
| 2024-05 | $2,135 | — |
Why Rent Inflation Matters
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
Compare All Cities
Open Full Rent Tracker →Other Cities
Data Source
Rent data uses the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), a smoothed measure of typical market-rate asking rents updated monthly by Zillow Research. ZORI covers single-family homes, condos, and co-ops and reflects asking rents for new leases — making it a more timely indicator than the lagged BLS shelter index. zillow.com/research | Money & Prices