Bottom Line: Is Seattle Expensive to Visit in 2023
Seattle is the most populous city in Washington, and if you’re thinking of visiting this bustling city for the first time, you may be wondering: Is Seattle expensive to visit or can you visit Seattle on a budget?
To give you a better idea of what to expect, I’ll be providing insight into the costs of visiting Seattle based on my own week-long stay in the city as well as tips for keeping your trip costs down!
Table of Contents
- Is Seattle Expensive to Visit? (2023)
- How Expensive Is Seattle?
- How Much Is Accommodation in Seattle?
- Are Seattle Tourist Attractions Expensive?
- How Expensive Is Food in Seattle?
- How Much Does Seattle Public Transport Cost?
- Is Seattle Expensive: FAQ
- Wrap-Up: Is Seattle Expensive to Visit? (2023)
Is Seattle Expensive to Visit? (2023)
To cut to the chase, yes — Seattle is pretty expensive to visit.
The city is well-known for being the largest major tech hub in the Pacific Northwest, and with so many tech bros and girlies in the city, it’s not exactly that far of a stretch to assume Seattle is also expensive to visit… I mean just look at Silicon Valley and San Francisco, two other major tech hubs with really high costs of living.
Heck, compared to San Diego, which has a reputation for being expensive and is where I lived for several years, Seattle makes San Diego seem not that bad… dare I say ✨almost affordable✨.
And, if you’re visiting from outside the United States and unfamiliar with the cities mentioned above, here are some European reference points.
Compared to Eastern European countries, such as Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, or Budapest… you can expect to spend 3x as much in Seattle compared to those locations.
But, let’s say you are more familiar with places in Western Europe. Major cities like Paris, Stockholm, and Oslo rank at the top of the most expensive places in Europe. But, they are surprisingly considered less expensive to visit than Seattle
Meanwhile, cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Monaco are said to be more expensive to visit than Seattle. From my experience, Zurich and Geneva are definitely very expensive, but I thought the cost of visiting Monaco wasn’t bad at all.
In the end, it’s all a little subjective based on your travel preferences. But, in general, Seattle is expensive to visit and you expect to spend a pretty penny for a vacation in the city!
How Expensive Is Seattle?
Ok, now that I’ve established that Seattle is expensive, you might be wondering exactly how expensive is Seattle.
We all come from different backgrounds, so my “expensive” could be your everyday costs — I mean, I am not exactly the most financially stable individual presently lol.
So, to paint a clearer picture, I’ll be providing you with average prices you can anticipate spending on various parts of your trip. These will be both based on my experience in Seattle as well as my friends who live in the city!
This way, you’ll hopefully get a nice idea of how much you’ll be spending on accommodation, food, and activities during your trip!
And to help you maximize your time in the city, I’ll give you a few recommendations on things to do and avoid!
How Much Is Accommodation in Seattle?
Since Seattle is a major city, you can find accommodation in Seattle to fit just about any budget. But to give you a rough idea, here’s a quick breakdown of prices you can expect to pay based on the type of housing you select.
For a shared room in a highly-rated hostel, you can expect to pay about $50 USD per night and $131 for a private room.
At a quality 3-star hotel, prices range from about $160 – $300 USD per night, with the average price being around $240 USD per night.
If you opt to stay at a 4-star hotel, you can expect to pay anywhere from $170 – $425 USD per night. That said, the average price is around $300…so any hotel offering a price below that is pretty good in terms of Seattle rates.
Finally, for any travelers looking for the most luxurious stay and to have the best amenities available at their fingertips, expect to pay a hefty sum. The only 5-star hotel in the area is the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle, which costs about $1,000 USD per night.
So, as you can see, the average price of accommodation in Seattle is quite a bit more expensive than in most other places.
Looking for Accommodation in Seattle?
If you’re still in the process of planning your trip to Seattle and haven’t secured your housing accommodations yet, here are some places I recommend checking out.
You can also just head directly to your favorite booking platform with the buttons below to see additional housing options.
Low-Cost Stay
- Green Tortoise Seattle — best hostel right next to Pike Place Market | ⭐️ 9 / 10
- Hotel Max — 3-star hotel, centrally located & includes gym | ⭐️ 8.2 / 10
Mid-Range Stay
- The Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel Seattle — 4-star hotel w/ spa | ⭐️ 8.5 / 10
- Hyatt Regency Seattle — fantastic 4-star hotel w/ lake views | ⭐️ 8.9 / 10
Fancy Stays
- Fairmont Olympic Hotel — luxury 4-star hotel w/ indoor pool & spa | ⭐️ 8.5 / 10
- Four Seasons Hotel Seattle — 5-star hotel w/ rooftop infinity pool | ⭐️ 9.3 / 10
Are Seattle Tourist Attractions Expensive?
In my opinion, Seattle Tourist Attractions are either super expensive or actually pretty affordable/free. It’s like there’s no middle-ground option.
For instance, the most popular tourist attraction that’s synonymous with being a symbol of the city is the Seattle Space Needle. To enter the Space Needle, you can expect to pay $32.50 – $39 USD, depending on the time slot you purchase.
I don’t know about you, but paying more than $30 dollars to ride an elevator up 500 feet and then see some views of the city seems unnecessarily expensive.
Instead, I recommend visiting the Sky View Observatory – Columbia Center in downtown Seattle. This is more commonly known as the Columbia Tower.
Here, you’ll not only pay less to catch panoramic views from way higher up than the Seattle Space Needle (520 feet up) but also the experience is just better.
As you ascend 73 floors (900+ feet) to the top of the tower, a staff member explains some of the history of the building and area. So if you want to get more value out of the experience, check out the Sky View Observatory.
Also at the top of most tourist “must-do” lists is a visit to Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit. Here, you’ll get an opportunity to witness some of the world-famous glass art sculptures by Dale Chihuly. Like the Space Needle, it can be a bit expensive, but I’d say it’s worth it.
Affordable Seattle Tourist Attractions
On the more affordable side, I recommend visiting the eye-catching Amazon Spheres in downtown Seattle, Washington Park Arboretum, and Kerry Park.
And for a true taste of the city, consider a Seattle food tour. What’s nice about the food tours in Seattle is that they’re actually pretty reasonably priced.
Most of the food tours in Pike Place cost $65 – $80 USD, which is a seriously great deal. I’ve paid well over $100 for foodie excursions in Milan or tasting experiences in Spain that lasted the same amount of time.
Overall, I would recommend allotting about $40-50 USD per day you are in Seattle for tourist activities. This way, you can easily spread your expenses out.
For instance, let’s say you are in Seattle for 3 full days. You can hit up the expensive tourist attractions one day, do a tasty food tour or day trip to Leavenworth the next day, and then chill in the city and visit all the little parks the third day.
How Expensive Is Food in Seattle?
Food in Seattle is more expensive than I’d like it to be, but it’s not terribly unreasonable.
It’s not like Zurich where I paid $13 USD for an 8 oz smoothie that wasn’t any better than a medium size smooth from Jamba Juice. Most places in Seattle don’t rob you in broad daylight.
But, you’ll likely feel like you’re being slightly shafted at some restaurants as some are SOOO expensive. For example, I paid $13 USD for an ice cream.
Was the ice cream amazing? Yes. Would I pay that much for the same ice cream again? No.
That said, there are also places that honestly should charge more. So it’s a little hit-and-miss. But, in general, I would budget $50 USD per day if you eat out twice a day. This amount does not factor in drinks.
🥭 NOTE: Food places near Pike Place Market are ✨ super expensive ✨ Even the 3 mangoes I within Pike Place Market cost me $14. They were good, but they weren’t nearly as good as the mangoes I had in Tahiti, which were a third of the price!
How Much Is a Meal in Seattle?
According to research, your average meal in Seattle is $25 USD. But, from my experience, I’d say this number is closer to about $18 – $20 USD per meal at an inexpensive restaurant.
Speaking of which, a place I highly recommend checking out and that I loved eating at is Biang Biang Noodles! They are famous for their homemade noodles that are the perfect texture and are mouthwateringly delicious.
And if you’re wondering what food Seattle is known for… the city is known for its Seattle dogs.
Seattle-style hot dogs are basically hot dogs with a generous amount of cream cheese, sautéed onions, and your favorite condiments. Oh! And all of this is inside a pretzel bun.
I personally have not tried one since I’m not big on hot dogs in general, but it’s something to check out. Also, Seattle is known for its sushi and array of seafood dishes, which makes sense considering its home to a major port.
How Much Does Seattle Public Transport Cost?
Unlike most places in the United States, Seattle has a fairly extensive public transport network that includes buses, the metro, street cars, the Link Light Rail, and even water ferries. It’s better than San Diego’s public transit network and honestly rivals that of Montreal and Paris, which is quite a feat.
And to sweeten the pot, the cost of Seattle public transport is pretty affordable. For example, if you fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) and want to get downtown, it costs about $3 via the Light Rail.
Meanwhile, an Uber costs about $45. How do I know this? Well, the Light rail was broken when I was flying out of Seattle, so I had to take an Uber.
And then for getting around the Seattle area, you can mostly walk from place to place if you’re staying downtown.
But, if you need to cross town or have limited mobility, a one-way ticket for a street car ride is $2.25 USD, and it’s similar pricing for the Light Rail/metro.
You can read more information on Seattle’s fantastic public transport network here. But, in general, I would budget $5 – $10 USD per day for public transport in Seattle.
Is Seattle Expensive: FAQ
If you don’t mind the abundance of cloudy and rainy days, then I definitely think Seattle is worth visiting! There are plenty of fun things to do and sights to see, good places to eat, and an awesome public transport network to help you explore all over the city.
I personally spent a week in Seattle. But, I’d say you should aim for at least 3 full days. You won’t be able to cover everything, but you’ll get a good taste of the city and have time for an excursion or two.
Relatively speaking, Seattle is a more expensive place for vacation. It will obviously depend on your particular financial background, but compared to San Diego or Austin Texas, you’ll probably spend more in Seattle.
The cheapest time to visit Seattle is in October and November (before Thanksgiving). This is when the weather is not great and the holiday season hasn’t kicked, so demand is low.
That said, a lot of my friends go back home from December – February. This is because they get seasonal depression from Seattle being so dark and cold during the winter season. So, outside of the holiday season, there aren’t a ton of tourists during the wintertime.
Yes! With Seattle’s many public transport options, you can easily get around Seattle without a car.
Other places to visit in Seattle include the Museum of Pop Culture, the Seattle Great Wheel, and the Zoo. Alternatively, consider hiking to Snoqualmie Falls or going on a wine-tasting adventure! There are lots of awesome wine tours in and around Seattle!
Wrap-Up: Is Seattle Expensive to Visit? (2023)
To conclude, Seattle is definitely on the more expensive side when it comes to travel destinations.
You can expect to pay more for housing and food here than in most places in the United States.
That said, it’s entirely possible to travel to the city on a budget as there are lots of low-cost activities to do to bring down expenses!
So with that, I hope this little guide has been helpful in forming your budget for your Seattle Itinerary and that you have a marvelous time wandering around!
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