Motels/Hotels
Go to Visit Seattle for a list of hotels in the Seattle area.
Closest Neighborhoods to the University
Seattle (like most cities) is a city of neighborhoods. Neighborhoods located closest to the University are listed below. They are relatively safe but it is always good to be alert and observant no matter where you live. Even within one neighborhood, some sections may not be as nice as others. It is a good idea to research your potential neighborhood as thoroughly as possible.
Although cost varies, rents in the Seattle area have risen significantly in the last several years. You would be lucky to find a nice apartment for under $1,500 a month. There are less expensive places but they are harder to find and are usually small studio apartments without a separate bedroom, or the location is not so good. If you just plan to rent a room, or share an apartment with another renter, that will be less expensive.
There are many rentals in the $1,600-$2,500 range or higher, depending on the size of the apartment, the location, whether there is a view of water, and any “extras” the apartment may have.
| Neighborhood | Average Bus Ride to UW |
|---|---|
| Capitol Hill | 20 min |
| Eastlake | 20 min |
| Fremont/Ballard | 20-25 min |
| Greenlake | 15-20 min |
| Greenwood | 20 min |
| Montlake | 10 min |
| Phinney Ridge | 20 min |
| Ravenna/Bryant | 15 min |
| Roosevelt | 10 min |
| Sandpoint | 20 min |
| University District | 5 min |
| Wedgwood | 15 min |
| Wallingford | 20 min |
The Seattle Times web site has a Real Estate section with weekly articles focusing on different neighborhoods.
On-Campus Resources for Grad Students:
Online Places to Search for Housing:
Rental Search Websites (non-UW)
Apartment List – Provides information about neighborhoods, nearby attractions, and more.
Apartment Advisor – Rental property search tool.
Apartment Guide – Rental property search tool.
Zumper – Free apartment rental search website.
Trulia – Rent or buy apartments or homes.
Craigslist.org – Free online classified advertising (“ad”) site that has grown in popularity and now operates in many U.S. cities and around the world. Some people like to use craigslist to search for apartments.
Collegeeducated.com – A helpful college student renters guide.
Things to consider about Craigslist:
The newest listings are at the top of the screen. The listing date is shown at the left hand side of the listing. Some of the listings contain photographs of the listed apartment; some do not.
Posters can be “creative” when describing the location of the listed apartment. For example, they will describe an apartment as being in Greenlake (or often, “North Greenlake”) when it is actually miles away from the lake in an adjoining neighborhood. They do this because Greenlake is a desirable neighborhood and the adjoining neighborhood may not be so desirable. So you need to verify that the apartment is actually located in the neighborhood you want.
Always keep your safety and security in mind when dealing with people you do not know. On the craigslist home page you will see links on the left called “avoid scams and fraud” and “personal safety tips.” These contain helpful safety information.
The Daily – UW Online Classifieds
The Daily – Student newspaper; their classified section contains ads for room rentals and a few apartments and houses.
UW Today Online Classifieds
Distributed University wide every Thursday, via email and posted online. Occasionally you will find a rental listed in their classified section.
Visiting Scholars Association
Not affiliated with the University of Washington, but offers several free services. http://www.visitingscholars.org.
Temporary, Short-Term Housing
You may decide you want to come to Seattle and stay in a hotel so you can look for an apartment in person. This link from the Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS) web site provides a list of nearby hotels. Most of them are near the University, except for the Commodore, YWCA, and Green Tortoise.
Additional UW Housing Resources
The following web sites contain lots of helpful information, especially if you are visiting us from another country. You can also go to the UW home page and type “housing” or any other subject in the search box.
- FIUTS: This UW group offers programs that enhance international understanding and promote cross-cultural friendships. At their office in HUB 310 you can find housing postings specifically for international visitors.
- International Scholars: They provide immigration and cross-cultural advising to students and scholars from abroad
- UW IELP: UW International & English Language Programs housing resources