Price comparison questions... Another one I am sure. (Seattle, Bellevue: apartment, rent)

[BrandonRyan]

Looking at moving later this year, and Seattle is on the top of my list. Job wise I am in the banking industry and usually can find jobs, but I will have one before I move. I am just wondering about some comparisons to where I currently live.

I am a single male, just turned 30, no wife, no kids, no bills other than the residuals (rent, cell phone, insurance, etc.) Whenever I see someone post on these forums, everyone immediately jumps to price costs for buying, but I am not interested in buying, and completely content with renting. I prefer a home, but a spacious apartment would suffice as well.

I am just curious on other expenses compared to where I live in Ocala, FL.

Gas - $3.37/gal for 87
Rent - Nice 2br/2ba apartment $850-1100; House 3br/2ba $1100
Milk - $3.25/gal
Electricity - Varies but for a 1200 SQFT house it's about $175-245/mo.
Smokes(since I smoke) - $7.07/pack of Marlborro Lights; $4.67/pack of L&M Blue pack

I am sure there are more, but just trying to get a quick comparison. I assume, based on what I am looking for my living shouldn't change to much. I make 43,000/yr at live very comfortable, I would be looking to make the same in Seattle, and assuming nothing to outrageous, feel living would be the same.

Not looking for anything in a specific area, I don't need to be downtown within walking distance of anything specific either. Just looking for brief discriptions.

Thank you in advance,
Brandon

[BATCAT]

Well, to tackle the biggest one, rent, while it really depends on the area of Seattle, you would generally expect to pay quite a bit more than those figures above.

[Hemlock140]

Gas - $3.37/gal for 87 About the same, some more some less

Rent - Nice 2br/2ba apartment $850-1100; $1,200-1,500 House 3br/2ba $1100 $1,600-2,000

Milk - $3.25/gal About the same

Electricity - Varies but for a 1200 SQFT house it's about $175-245/mo. Lower unless you keep it at 80 in winter. No A/C here.

Smokes(since I smoke) - $7.07/pack of Marlborro Lights; $4.67/pack of L&M Blue pack Wouldn't know

[Ira500]

Gas- Varies a lot within the Seattle area. The ARCO on Grady Way in Renton was 3.17 this morning. I paid 3.27 yesterday at a different station in Renton. I saw gas in Bellevue and Seattle over the last couple of days for 3.37 and higher.

Rent: Nicer, newer 2 bd apt in Ballard is around 1700-1800, on Capitol Hill and Queen Anne it's a few hundred more, in Renton it's about 1300.

Electricity- Also depends where- Seattle City Light is cheaper than Puget Sound Energy, which serves most of what is outside Seattle city limits. The Pacific Northwest has some of the lowest electricity costs in the US, thanks to hydropower.

[tobester]

You're coming from Florida where I assume you need AC ... here we don't. I live in a 2500 sq ft home. Winter electricity is about $120/mo - summer is about $50/m

[BrandonRyan]

Thanks for the info so far, I figured rent would be more, as I do live in an area that is a smaller country town. When I lived in Orlando rent prices were about what you guys are quoting.

I do like the fact of no A/C in the summer that sounds wonderful, it beats sweating the minute you walk out the door.