From Ohio to Washington?! (Seattle, Spokane: 2013, apartment, rent)

[2strlovely]

So my husband and I and our 4 month old daughter are talking about relocating to numerous areas. Our top choice being Seattle. We plan to visit in February 2013. And plan to move October 2013.

He has a major in Communications and I don't have a degree. We are planning to go without jobs lined up but we will have 10,000 with us. We do plan to try and apply for jobs while still in Ohio though. So we are not sure how much we'd be bringing home when we got there. So our budget is well, cheap.

Right now we know that Seattle is a lot more expensive than Ohio. Currently we pay 600 for a 2 bedroom, with being paid a little over minimum wage which is $7.75 here.

We want to be in a family friendly area, but still near transportation (we will still be bringing our car) and the heart of the city. A little commute is fine. We commute 40 minutes away to the city right now.
We want safe of course.

So what i'm asking is, what neighborhoods should we look at? We are fine with a studio apartment, fine with a 1 bedroom/2 bedroom. And if we could get a three bedroom well, that's unlikely ha!

Any ideas or suggestions would be amazing! Thank you!

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by 2strlovely

So my husband and I and our 4 month old daughter are talking about relocating to numerous areas. Our top choice being Seattle.

Looking at your posts, in every city you posted, you say that city is your top choice?

[Hemlock140]

The parts of Seattle you would like will be more like $800 for a studio. It's a lot more expensive here than Ohio. We do have a higher minimum wage, which will be $9.19 by the time you get here, but a 2-bedroom apartment is going to run over $2,000 month for the newer buildings in Capital Hill and Queen Anne, some of the nicest areas. Ballard may be a little less at about $1,500. If you go out farther, toward Northgate and the border with the city of Shoreline you may find 2 BR for $1,200.

[sll3454]

Originally Posted by 2strlovely

So my husband and I and our 4 month old daughter are talking . . .


So what i'm asking is, what neighborhoods should we look at? . . .


Any ideas or suggestions would be amazing! Thank you!

What does the baby say about it all?

You can post in the Seattle subforum to get more specific neighborhood information:
https://www.city-data.com/forum/seattle-area/

[lady fern]

Looks like your "first choice" was Boston, Portland, NY and Seattle. IMO, all of these would be poor choices considering the low operating budget that you have. A degree in communications would probably fetch you a higher standard of living in a smaller community but my guess is that all of the states you are considering have a higher cost of living than Ohio.
Although Portland and Seattle share a lot of similarities, NY and Boston are vastly different. Perhaps you need to take a longer look at what you are looking for in a location and narrow down your focus?

[Miskitty19]

currently the prices are going to be more on the coast - I moved from Washington State to Ohio State in 2011 Its going to be a BIG BUGGET CHANGE - gas average 3.85 to 4.50 a gallon Rent on the seattle side 900.+ I would look towards KENT or Auburn area.. and it al depends on your job locations too. Try Snagajob.com for jobs, and maybe check out craigslist.com for seattle area... Its very pretty in Washington and NO HUMIDITY like ohio! Take a rain coat for seattle!!

Hope that helps a little bit ---- Spokane Washington is a nice area too!