moving to capitol hill area next summer (Seattle: apartments, for rent)

[oceans_embrace]

Hi everyone...I've been reading thru the posts here and got some really good info but i have a few more random ?'s:

I'm moving from Helena, MT where the cost of living is pretty low, i.e. my 1 bedroom apt is $475+electricity, which runs about $20 /mo, I know rent there is higher...so I'm expecting about $800/mo for rent...anyway, does Seattle's jobs reflect the higher cost of living there?

For example, I work in data entry and make about $1100/mo, what would that equate to out there? Is the job market pretty strong for entry level, yet decent paying jobs? the reason I'm concerned about this is I will be going to college as well as working full time so theres no way im going to be able to hold down 2 jobs to make ends meet + go to school, and if i wont be able to make enough $ to live in the capitol hill area then i wont be able to make the move... whats the average minimum income per month that i would need to make to get by, and is it easy to find a job that pays that much?

Next ?...is there adequate & safe storage units/garages for my car? I think i will be walking or taking public transportation while im there, and I know from visiting that parking is in short supply and traffic is a *****...will my car get ticketed or broken into parked on the street in front of my apartment? are there long term garages or storage units to rent a space which is safe to leave my car in? or would i be better off selling it?

i might also be biking a lot...is it easy to get around by bike or will i get run off the road by your notoriously erratic drivers?

final ? (for now, lol): what are the condition of most of the apartments in the capitol hill area in the $600-800 range? Im sure it varies from building to building, but as a general rule are those slummy apartments for that $$ amount? Are the buildings pretty safe and well maintained?

thanks for the help folks!

[ladyjuliek]

$800 a month in Seattle going to be hard to find - even if it's what all of the rent.com's are reporting. When you start talking to the actual apartments for availability, it's up even from that. For instance, a place I'll call "UPA", their smallest studio apt, is now renting at $1495, for something around 500 sf. They are probably high end. Another apt complex I called yesterday, located in the Magnolia area, their smallest (a 1 bedroom, 715 sf) is starting at $1110. Neither place includes utilities or parking. (UPA's parking is $150 extra! :O)

Hopefully the rent rates will start leveling out soon... one would hope... if you check out places like apartmentratings.com, it seems to indicate that there was a drop in '04 or '03, but since '05 rates everywhere have been rocketing.

[_Charles_]

The hyper inflated cost of living in Seattle is not reflected in salaries and wages here sorry. I have highly specialized skills and still had a difficult time the first three years I was here. I strongly suggest you come for extended visit (if possible) before moving here. I have been here six years and I am working on leaving. I now have an excellent job but I can't stand the people. I make enough to be a home owner here on Cap Hill (and I am) however I am still am ready to leave. Everyone here is polite but NOBODY is friendly I feel like I have been living a refrigerator for the past 6 years - I am sick of it. I want to puke every time I hear some Birkenstock wearing hirsute tattoo covered chick chirping about how great she thinks Seattle is.

[argo69]

Oceans, you'll be able to find a decent place for $800 on Capitol Hill IF you're willing to settle for a studio. It's unlikely you'll find a 1-bedroom that you're happy with in a decent part of the hill for less than $800 however. If you're living on the hill, parking will be a pain, car theft and vandalism is uncommonly high in the Seattle area. Why not take advantage of the fact that you will be living in probably the one area of Seattle where you can get by without a car without too much difficulty and just sell the car?

Saaries in Seattle have not kept up with the cost of living. Can you make this move happen? Sure. Can you live in a nice 1-bedroom apt. in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in town (Capitol Hill), plus have a car with all the associated expenses (gas, insurance, payments, parking), all on an entry level data-entry job salary? I don't see that happening.

The employment situation is pretty good right now in Seattle and it certainly shouldn't be too difficult to get something entry level through temp agencies or such.

[cobolt]

_Charles_

I second that