Bellevue continues to rank as the most expensive rental market in the Seattle metro area, according to a monthly rent report analyzing active listings across the region. The data shows that one-bedroom rents in Bellevue increased 5.9% this month to a median of $2,520, while two-bedroom units rose 4.1% to $3,050.
Across the metro area, the report highlights a wide gap between the highest and lowest rental markets. The three most expensive cities for one-bedroom apartments are Bellevue at $2,520, Redmond at $2,360, and Kirkland at $2,100. On the lower end of the spectrum, Wenatchee reports a median one-bedroom rent of $1,280, followed by Lakewood at $1,390 and Oak Harbor at $1,440. The difference between the highest and lowest markets exceeds $1,200 per month for a typical one-bedroom unit.
Bellevue’s position at the top of the regional rankings is consistent with prior monthly reporting, which has repeatedly placed the city among the most expensive rental markets in the Seattle metro area over multiple cycles. The city also remains part of a higher-cost Eastside cluster that includes Redmond and Kirkland, where rents typically exceed Seattle averages.
Bellevue’s downtown core has become a major hub for corporate office space, driven largely by continued expansion from major tech employers such as Amazon, along with a growing concentration of additional office tenants in recent years, according to regional employment data. This concentration of office employment has coincided with sustained rental demand in nearby residential areas.
The latest figures also place Bellevue well above the statewide median for one-bedroom apartments, which has been reported at approximately $1,555 in recent periods. The city’s pricing continues to reflect broader regional housing dynamics, including high demand relative to available inventory.
The data is based on a monthly analysis of active rental listings, with median rents calculated from asking prices rather than signed lease data. The Zumper report provides a snapshot of current rental market conditions across cities in the Seattle metropolitan area.
