Moving to Seattle - where is best to live; Bellevue, Kirkland or Seattle itself? (transplants)

[AlexLawless]

Hi.

I hope you’re all doing well out in Seattle!

After 5 years effort, from a small town in the UK via London and now New York, I am finally moving to Seattle – a place I’ve visited many times and that I love – the outdoors life is something that will suit me down to the ground!

However, as a single, 29-year-old male, I am also looking for a place where there are bars and things to do (sports and activities etc) as well as be able to meet similarly aged people.

I’ll be working in Bellevue so I do not know where would be best to live - visiting is very different. Hence why I am reaching out! I think I’ve narrowed it to Bellevue, Kirkland or Seattle but any suggestions would be gratefully received. Also, any idea of cost of rent in these areas?

Finally, I have no idea of what the traffic is like during rush hour, so that would be good to know as well.

Thanks for your help in advance,

Alex

[BellevueNative]

A young single guy asked basically this same question just last week or so, so I'll give you the same advice I gave him: If you're working in Bellevue and like Bellevue, live in Bellevue. You can go to Seattle on the weekends when you have time to explore, you won't have to pay the toll to cross the lake if you live on the side you work on, and if you like the outdoors you'll be closer to that if you live on the Eastside. I'm sure if you do some searching you'll find plenty of info on this site about the benefits of Bellevue vs Kirkland vs Seattle.

Same goes for finding rental prices: Google it. Varies wildly depending on location and amenities.

[Hemlock140]

I agree, stay in Bellevue, near downtown. Being from London and NY you may find the rent to be a bit less than you are used to, while people moving here from the midwest and southern US are shocked at the high rent. Traffic is nasty, but again, compared to London and NY not so bad. Some of the worst is the freeway (405) through Bellevue.
If you can walk or stick to surface streets to get to work within Bellevue you will save a lot of time.

[Scotty Dosent Know]

I would agree with living where you work, it makes life so much easier and Bellevue is a great area. Downtown is well kept with some nicer/high end stores.

Being a single guy if you are looking for girls......the type of girl that you will run into in Seattle, Bellevue and Kirkland will differ greatly. But that may be a different topic lol

[dfdfsdfsdfs]

Originally Posted by AlexLawless

Hi.

I hope you’re all doing well out in Seattle!

After 5 years effort, from a small town in the UK via London and now New York, I am finally moving to Seattle – a place I’ve visited many times and that I love – the outdoors life is something that will suit me down to the ground!

However, as a single, 29-year-old male, I am also looking for a place where there are bars and things to do (sports and activities etc) as well as be able to meet similarly aged people.

I’ll be working in Bellevue so I do not know where would be best to live - visiting is very different. Hence why I am reaching out! I think I’ve narrowed it to Bellevue, Kirkland or Seattle but any suggestions would be gratefully received. Also, any idea of cost of rent in these areas?

Finally, I have no idea of what the traffic is like during rush hour, so that would be good to know as well.

Thanks for your help in advance,

Alex

Hey man, I just moved out to Bellevue a few weeks ago. If you are working around here, you definitely want to live on this side of the lake. Traffic and commute times around here are insane.
As far as the social scene goes, it really depends on what you're into, but I can tell you for sure that it is not an easy thing out here. You can't just walk into friendships with people you meet around town, and the popular consensus is that it is easier to make friends with other "transplants" (people who also just moved out here recently).

[AlexLawless]

Thanks everyone. It's definitely given me food for thought! I guess Kirkland or Bellevue it will be. Does either have "nightlife" or is it Seattle that people go to for that? As I said, I only know from travelling rather than living and going out regularly in the same area.

Got to say Scotty, that line on the different girls gets me intrigued but I know this is not a dating site!

[Inkpoe]

Kirkland has better nightlife than Bellevue-- however, you mentioned you're 29, so I have no idea if you've mellowed down a bit, in which case, Bellevue probably would be more to your liking given that it's more wine bar/restaurant professional/yuppie types.

However, both are very small compared to Seattle and Seattle would offer more live shows, variety, and such.

[Freebird2007]

Bellevue. Kirkland is great....for families. Seattle is....bleh.

Plus, being a young single guy Bellevue would be more up to your speed as there seems to be more young professionals there and not so much of the shady people you would find in Seattle nightlife.

[PhaninWA]

Hey. I'm 28 and just recently moved out of Bellevue to Kirkland (cause I bought a place, but that's another story).
If you are renting, then just stay in Bellevue. Public transportation options are definitely better in Bellevue, and if you have a car then you are minutes away from everything. As far as activities, it's kind of a wash. The public beach parks in Kirkland is a lot better, but Bellevue have more shops and restaurants.
TBH, Kirkland have better night life than Bellevue for sure. The bars around Bellevue is catered towards professionals coming out for happy hour. During weekdays, almost all the bars empties out at around 9 pm. Kirkland has a younger and more local crowd for sure.
But, you can always just go to Kirkland or Seattle to go out. And if you get really hammered, a cab ride home is only $20-$40.
These days I have a steady girlfriend, a job that I love, and a mortgage. So, going out suddenly becomes much less important