The Best Moving Companies in Seattle

The average cost of living in Seattle was $2,438 in 2021.¹ Unfortunately, this makes Seattle’s cost of living one of the highest in the US, so you should ensure you have a well-paying job lined up before you decide to move to the Emerald City.

The good news is that Seattle’s median yearly income is among the highest in the nation at $52,132.¹ This means that if you want to live in a large, popular city, Seattle is one of your best options financially. As long as you can cope with all the gloomy weather, that is.

Short answer: book your moving services as soon as possible. The sooner you book the better. For one thing, prices for moving services usually increase the closer you book to your actual move date. You’ll likely pay less for a move booked months in advance than you would for a move you booked mere weeks before your move date.

Additionally, booking your moving services ASAP ensures you’ll have more companies to choose from. During peak moving season (May–August in most parts of the country), good moving companies are often booked out for two to three months. If you wait till the last minute to book your movers, you’ll probably be left with the companies at the bottom of the barrel—if you can even find any with availability.

Luckily, most moving companies accept bookings six months to a year in advance, so high prices and limited availability won’t be a problem if you plan your move right.

Got some clothing, appliances, furniture, or other household goods that you don’t want to move but you don’t want to throw away either? Use one of Seattle’s many donation centers to give your old stuff a new life. Here are just a few of Seattle’s donation centers:

• Northwest Center
• Value Village
• Clothing Drop Spot

If you’re looking for a charity that will come pick up your donations from your home, check out our list of charities that pick up donations. Many of the charities on our list (like Goodwill and the Salvation Army) have locations in or near Seattle.

On average, rent for a single bedroom apartment in Seattle was $1,648 in 2021.¹ And while this is on the high end when compared to the rest of the country, it’s far cheaper than the average rent in places like Irvine, California ($2,364) and San Francisco ($1,889).