Living in Seattle

Seattle, a vibrant city in the Pacific Northwest, is renowned for its outdoor recreation and large tech industry. 

Seattle is home to over 485 parks – and that’s just within city limits. Just in Seattle, you can enjoy beachfronts, lush forest paths, several boating locations, and serene picnicking spots. 

If you venture out a little farther, you will find endless exciting nature destinations. Hikes of all difficulties, rock climbing, canoeing, meadows, waterfalls, bike trails, camping, and more, are all within a few hours commute from the city. There are even a few bus lines through the Trailhead Direct that serve trailheads in North Bend, Little Si, Mt. Teneriffe, and Mt. Si. 

Seattle also has a strong culinary scene. We are the world center for all things coffee (really, we statistically consume more coffee than any other city) and are known for our robust, year-round farmer’s markets – the most iconic being the Pike Place Market, open every day, and is loved by locals and visitors alike. Located in the heart of downtown, and nestled between shopping centers and fisherman’s docks, the market is a hub for high quality artisan foods, fresh fish and produce, and local handmade craft stalls. 

You can also find many spaces for music and art in this city. There are art galleries, venue spaces, and local events in every neighborhood. Seattle is the birthplace of grunge, and we still have a host of small venues where you can hear something new every night. We also have a symphony orchestra, ballet, opera, Broadway shows and art museums if you’re looking for something statelier. 

If you’ve heard of Seattle’s reputation as a rainy city – we have a rainy season in place of a cold, snowy winter, most of which is light drizzle! We actually get less annual rainfall (~38 inches) than New York City (~50 inches). Most Seattleites go without umbrellas just fine. 

Sports fans can see the Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders, Kraken, and Storm if you want major league action. But there are also two WHL hockey teams, AAA baseball, Division 1 athletics (go Dawgs!), and plenty of golf in town or a short drive away. 

Our summers are bright and green, most of our urban streets blooming with flowers and falling under the shade of trees. Interestingly, Seattle houses a wide variety of cherry blossom and plum trees, which bloom from as early as February and sometimes into late as May. While the blossoming trees can be spotted all over Seattle, the Quad on UW’s main campus is lined by 90-year-old Yoshino cherry blossom trees, which reach full blossom in late March. Students and faculty of the University especially enjoy bringing family to visit during this time. 

Seattle is also a great place for young families. Seattle Center alone hosts a children’s museum, children’s theater, and science center. The aquarium and zoo are huge hits, and there are growing waterfront activities for the whole family to enjoy. Short hikes are available all around town for little legs. And all those parks offer playgrounds and off-leash dog areas, and many have wading pools or splashpads for summertime fun.   

Although Seattle has a relatively high cost of living, it is manageable on a resident’s salary. Median rent/mortgage costs for our residents are between $2000-2500 a month. Public transportation is convenient between all sites. About 75% of our residents use public transit for their commute, especially since a fully subsidized transit pass is provided to all UW faculty and students. Free shuttles are also available between most of our hospital locations. 

Many of our residents have come to Seattle from afar and have fallen in love with our beautiful city. We hope to see you in Seattle as well!