Can I afford Seattle Area ...specifically, Renton? (Tacoma, Bellevue: apartment, to rent)

[Jessnuts]

I am a single 26 year old, no children, no pets, who is used to living on a fairly conservative budget.

I currently live in Michigan, born and raised, and am looking at a job transfer for something new (i.e. something not involving 99% humidity and weather so cold you can't even salt the ice on the roads).

Current salary roughly $40G. If I transfer to Seattle, I anticipate a cost of living increase, but nothing more than a few percent.

The office I would move to is in Renton.

Can I afford Seattle? Or am I going to be pulling my hair out worried about money?

Any suggestions on where to live? (45 min commute max. The farther away from the city, the better.)

Thank you for any help! It is greatly appreciated!!

[fromvictoria]

I'm from Victoria and considering a move to the Renton area. My husband may start work in downtown Seattle but I'm not crazy about living close to downtown with 2 young kids.
Anyone out there who can give advice also to affordability in Renton and commutes to Seattle and raising kids in that area?

[Jucstice]

I currently live in a little town close to Renton called Burien. I was attending The Art Institute of Seattle and decided to move closer to Seattle but couldn't afford to live in the city.

The commute from here is usually 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic and taking hwy 509 to hwy 99 into the city. I found if I went on I-5 the commute was considerably more miserable especially the closer you get to Seattle.

The cost of living in the Renton area is about the same as Burien I think, though in my area you would want to stay away from White Center. I live in a really nice, fairly large 3 bedroom apartment and I'm paying $1160/mo. Renton or Kent would probably be about as far South of Seattle as you would want to go and still have a reasonable commute.

Depending upon where you would be working, the commuter train is always an option as it stops at King Street Station in Seattle. I used to take the train in to school when I lived in Sumner which is way far South in Pierce County.

[bellabella2]

From Victoria!
Well there are so many options for you..

Your husband will work in Seattle and you can still live south or north of the city. Check the Sounder train schedules and stations and then look at neighborhoods with easy access to the train stations. That will be better than the car commute on I-5 to Seattle. Going East is another option but I don't think the commute is any easier. My sister used to live in Bellevue and hated the drive so she moved closer to the city. She lives now in West Seattle.

My folks also made a move to West Seattle to a new community there. And the drive to downtown Seattle is really good. They live in the High Point Community. They bought a three level townhome, really nice and with adequate space. I visited in October and loved the areas of their new neighborhood. I saw many children about there. It is also very Diverse.

I bought in North Tacoma in 2004. The west end really close to Point Defiance is a nice area. It is also close to downtown Tacoma where your husband could take the Sounder Train to downtown Seattle. You could buy a nice and larger place for less there than you would in King County. There is also a little place nestled in there called Ruston. Check it out.

Or check out places where your husband could make the commute via ferry...you may find some nice areas to live at.
Well that is all for now.