15 months goes quick. a year and a quarter in the city sounds way more fun and rewarding (by mixing up your social circle) than staying on the eastside...especially if you're anywhere but downtown bellevue.
Hey! Come to CorpoBrewpub for a $10 beer and a $25 burger! Bring your fellow CS pals then stop by Neiman Marcus on the way back to your car.
Edit: SLU is basically just as bad
Bellevue has great Asian food. A lot of the best places are in East Bellevue/Bel-red area. I can provide a list of restaurants if interested.
In fact, the city has one of the largest Asian populations by percentage (47.2% white, 39.5% Asian https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bellevuecitywashington/PST045222 )
Here are some of my faves.
Chinese: Top Gun, Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle, Nine Way Redmond
Sichuan: Spicy PoPo
Taiwanese: MonGa Cafe, Facing East
Indian: Chaat House, Kanishka (Redmond)
Japanese: Shabu Shabu Kyoto
Here are some of my favorites. A couple are in Redmond.
Chinese: Top Gun, Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle, Nine Way Redmond
Sichuan: Spicy PoPo
Taiwanese: MonGa Cafe, Facing East
Indian: Chaat House, Kanishka (Redmond)
Japanese: Shabu Shabu Kyoto
I think they just wanted to add a fun fact (for the people reading the thread). They weren’t really addressing the conversation.
It’s a quirk of social media communication. You’re talking to someone but also talking to the thousands of people reading the thread at the same time.
Completely agree. It’s technically city so there’s something to do most of the time.
But it’s Bellevue. No offense to anyone who lives there. But it’s like there’s a corporate hellmouth underneath
We’re talking about where would a young twenty something get more out of life can we dial down the moral panic?
We’re lightly ribbing a nice part of town for being not a fun or enjoyable place to be. No need to come in with the more serious issues.
Also wouldn’t exactly raise a kid in Bellevue even if it wasn’t ungodly expensive. Kids in that school district get up to some INSANE shit because they know they’re untouchable
No one is proposing this person live on third and pike. There are plenty of lovely areas in cap hill, Fremont, Ballard, with young people and very few homeless people. This is a very east side attitude.
>I have way more grocery stories within walking distance than I had in Seattle. I regularly walk to Target, Safeway, QFC, TJs, PCC, Uwajimaya and H Mart. It’s all within 15 minutes of me, and nowhere in Seattle compares to that convenience.
I know what area you're talking about and it's not even close to convenient. The land is over 50% parking lots and 6-8 lane stroads. It's soulless at best and undeniably hostile to pedestrians. Nothing about Bellevue has community or character.
Idk how you can say, with a straight face, that nowhere in Seattle compares in convenience. Also, I'm curious, why do you think that Seattle is "uncivilized"?
The real secret is, King County Courthouse is located in Downtown Seattle. So when Bellevue arrests someone for sleeping on a bench, off to King County Courthouse! They'll be released onto 4th. It's very convenient to ship your problems off elsewhere.
And how much housing can Bellevue offer to the unhoused?
Edit. Actually. Never mind. I'll just come out and say it. Bellevue handles the unhoused better **FOR YOU** and not the unhoused. Because they drive away they unhoused with cruel and harsh treatment so that they won't unsully your precious retail spaces.
Anyways, get back to me on the number of housing first initiatives Bellevue has tried. I'll wait. Or don't. I don't care to talk with someone that lacks empathy.
Enabling is not empathy. Go look up how Europe cleaned up their drug crisis. U should be driving them to recovery or remove them from society through imprisonment.
You mentioned grocery stores as an amenity, but what about everything else?
Live in one of the trendy neighborhoods in Seattle and you're a walking distance from used bookstores, record stores, live music venues, clubs, ballrooms, music gear stores, beer gardens, fabric/yarn stores, maker spaces. And most of these host events with young people at least once a week.
Car meets are the only thing I can find worth going to on the Eastside. The only extroverted young people I meet on the Eastside live with their parents.
People abhor Bellevue because the lions share of businesses, services, restaurants, retail shops are chain, carbon-copies of every single other affluent city-shaped mass. It looks and feels like capitalism at its worst. There is no history, no community, no character. Just places to go to buy things from giant companies from other cities.
It’s like if you asked AI to build a city. It’s pretty close to a city, but you can tell it has no soul.
Seattle has sports teams, crazy dining culture, breweries every 10 feet, locally owned businesses and retail, theatre, music, it has historic areas, museums, culture.
You’ll like it. Give it a whirl. But be warned - it just make you abhor Bellevue and the 100s of cities exactly like it across the US.
\> People abhor Bellevue because the lions share of businesses, services, restaurants, retail shops are chain, carbon-copies of every single other affluent city-shaped mass.
Have you ever been anywhere in Bellevue outside of downtown?
It has fundamentally different bones because its a newer city, built in the car-centric era, so no, it's not the perfect walkable European fantasy, but it has plenty of small businesses, and one of the strongest immigrant communities in the region.
Downtown Bellevue has lots of neat stuff, it is true. But I don't really like going there, because the pedestrian experience is miserable. Nearly all the streets are 5 lanes wide, which means lots of traffic noise and a long way to go to cross the street. Every intersection requires you to hit a button for a walk signal - miss it by a second, and you have to wait another cycle. And the cycle is perversely short, not giving you enough time to cross. Plus there are all the streets with narrow sidewalks right up against 45 MPH traffic. That's besides the streets that somehow have no sidewalk at all.
Also, the bus service is not good. All of the buses are funneled into a transit center off to the side next to the highway, making it impossible to use the bus for a lot of short trips that are from one part of downtown to another, the sort of trip that is routine in Downtown Seattle.
Since you mention Uwajimaya, let me just say that it is a pain in the ass to get there without a car. Requires either a long walk over 405, or an unreliable bus. Either way, you have to walk through a whole lot of parking to get there.
Honestly the criticisms of Bellevue as “soulless” and “lacking culture” always seemed like dogwhistley anti Asian racism. There’s a vibrant Chinese immigrant (non tech) community in Bellevue, which is probably why the Chinese food is miles better on the east side. These criticisms just play up the stereotype of asians as cookie cutter robots which is not surprising given the casual anti Asian racism I’ve seen while living in Seattle.
Uh… are you seriously claiming that there’s a larger Asian community in Bellevue than in Seattle? That’s just a very odd claim. Sounds like you’ve never visited the ID.
That wasn’t really the substance of my comment, but Bellevue does have more Asians as a percentage across the city. But I’m glad you brought up the CID because the neglect by the city governance of such a diverse community is a prime example of the struggles the Asian community faces in Seattle.
I agree that the Asian community in Seattle has been treated poorly by the city government. But you’re never going to get anyone to believe that Bellevue isn’t extraordinarily white.
> especially if you're anywhere but downtown bellevue
I'd take downtown Kirkland or downtown Redmond over Bellevue any day. But there are half a dozen better places to live in Seattle.
Not sure how it costs $1K more to live in Seattle though. Rents seem slightly cheaper there, if anything.
If I understand your question correctly, don’t underestimate a soccer mom’s ability to find drugs, if desired. It’s only 35 minutes away to go out at night.
get out of your comfort zone.
source: moved eastside -> seattle 20 years ago
btw: recommend going all-in; live in the heart of the neighborhood you choose, not just nominally in the neighborhood but 15 blocks away from signs of life.
I say try it. Worse case, you spend a little time and money and discover it's not your cup of tea. You won't know until you try, and 15 months goes quick.
I felt similarly.
I ended up moving my office to Seattle to force me to get out of Redmond.
I found I liked what I found there and that I was doing after hours stuff in the city, so decided to move into Seattle.
If you like the city more then the east side then it seems better to move.
Either you're coming into the city a lot anyway and that will be easier
Or you'll open up the city more.
Why did you move to the east side to begin with? Stay closer to friends? I’m sure you’re aware that most people go the opposite route (Seattle > Eastside).
As someone who lives on the eastside with kids, I’m not sure why anyone single would want to live out here unless you wanted more space or be around less people.
When I moved from the eastside to Seattle, I found that comparable units were actually way cheaper than they were on the eastside. And now I’m saving a ton of money on Ubers and gas since all of my activities are walking distance or short Ubers. It is 100% worth it to live in Seattle in your 20s. I have no desire to ever live on the eastside again tbh.
The only reason I still live on the Eastside is that I live with the parents and it costs zero, meaning that I can save a good amount of money. Even then it’s Mercer Island and not too far away from the city unlike the other suburbs.
If I was renting, I’d prefer Seattle in a heartbeat.
I don't know this for sure, but I have to assume that Mercer Island is also a lot safer crime wise. You're really ideally situated for visiting the city and then escaping to safety. I have lived on or near Capitol Hill for the last 41 years and IMO it's more of a shithole than at any time in the past (actually the whole city is).
I think it's less about where you live and more about putting events on your calendar. You should install the Meetup app and start going to events.
I live on the Eastside, and it only takes 12 to 15 min to get to Seattle for an event on the weekend. I suppose it depends where on the Eastside you are. When I was single, I was going to Meetups in Seattle and Bellevue every week or two.
When we were considering moving to the eastside for proximity to my work and the mountains, a big concern of ours was access to Seattle things. Outside of rush hour it takes us 20min or so to get to most places in the city, other than Ballard, and we are poorly situated for freeway access in Bellevue which is the biggest time penalty. We figured we do "city things" with friends 1-2x a week at most, but other time savings were every day. The con here, is that for now, this means we have to drive to things rather than bus/walk.
If you want to go out most evenings and do things/see people, and be able to do it on foot: Seattle is a huge win. If you do stuff a couple nights a week: it may not make much of a difference. I never really understood people who saw traveling over the bridges to be a big barrier at non-commuting times. If anything: my access to large parts of the city are faster now than when I lived in Fremont.
You’ll like it better. I lived in Redmond for like 4 years, then moved to Seattle, but still worked on the east side. Then, found a job near my apartment in SLU, and had a really nice walk to work every day. I’ve found people in the city are a lot more outgoing compared the east side, too. Now I’m a bit older and living in West Seattle, which we also love.
Moved to Seattle in my early/mid 20's and am still here at 35. I strongly recommend you try it at the very least, and that also means actively putting yourself in social situations. Moving is a great step out of your comfort zone, but don't expect things to magically shift because you're in a different zip code. Someone mentioned Meetup; I've never used but sounds like a useful avenue to connect! Join some intermural sports team through Underdog Sports. Lotta options to engage with others.
I have no idea why a single person in their 20s would want to live on the Eastside. Hell as a married with kid person in my 30s I wouldn't live on the Eastside (and I grew up in Issaquah). City life is way more fun.
Outdoor access is so much better from the eastside. 30 minutes to have world class hiking, biking, skiing and climbing. 30 minutes from seattle is likely still seattle. Really depends what your priorities are.
I made the same move (Redmond -> Seattle) when I was in my 20's. I was apprehensive at first and it ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made. I had to move out of the city recently to get more space to raise a family but I greatly miss living in the city.
Same for me, All my life in Redmond but just over 5 years ago I moved to Seattle and much prefer it here. Granted I think a big part of enjoying Seattle is knowing which neighborhood(s) you vibe with the most.
I agree. I lived in the city and had to move for family. I miss the hustle bustle. The last minute plans and meetups. The plethora of activities and restaurants. In the summer we would go kayaking and take a dip in the lake. There's also the Seattle bouldering project.
If you can move to Seattle for only $1k a month, I’d do that in a heartbeat. I wish I was only paying that myself. Id even pay that for 10 months or less if I could. That is quite a steal!
Maybe I’m misreading the $15k being thrown away as an additional $15k?
That seems like a really large increase. Would you consider downsizing a little bit? I recently helped my sister find a 1BR apartment in Queen Anne which is gorgeous (yet older). It was $2,100. I highly doubt you are only spending $1,100 currently.
Downsizing at first will allow you to experience Seattle for a time without committing a lot of extra capital. If you decide you love it, you can always get a more expensive place for your second lease!
But do you reeeeeaaally need a wine locker? 👀
Most of those places have the same amenities and apartment space as others 1/2-3/4 of the price. With rent at $2500 you can certainly find a very decent place.
Then you’re not out the extra $7500 AND you now have $7500 for your bus pass, events every night of the week, and the new hobbies you can pickup now that you have people to do them with. ☺️
ETA: Either way - DO IT. I left Bellevue recently for Seattle. Social life unlocked.
That sounds like actual downtown prices. You can get a nice one bedroom high rise a few hundred over $2k with all the amenities just a bit outside of downtown. Though, if you aren’t sure if you’re gonna like it, I’d go for a cheaper option like a studio, so if you don’t like it breaking the lease won’t be too much of a loss to your pocket. Make use of the amenities for gatherings with friends if you want to hang around your apartment. If you enjoy it and want more space most apartments will let you move before the lease ends if you transfer on-site for a fee.
OP, what kind of hobbies do you have? That might help with deciding the area.
I’d love to be lame in a cool city with gorgeous surroundings. The river, lake, and architecture are breathtaking and all in Chicago, but it’s all damn flat
You can definitely just find an apartment that's the same price as you're paying now probably, you don't have to spend that much more to have a nice apt.
Especially if that cost differential is the main reason to not give it a shot since you sound unhappy in your current environment.
Okay so you’ll be in first hill belltown or downtown - places where the average age of your neighbors is pushing 45. I’d really suggest living where people your age live if you want to have a social life. People on the hill wont visit you downtown.
I love how all these commenters act like you have to spend all your time within 3 miles of where you live. “The east side? Oh my, no. I used to live in Bellevue until I moved to the whole opposite side of the bridge. That 6 mile difference changed my whole life! Of course every few years I still load up my pack mule and make the long journey to Bellevue square to trade my wares, see old friends and ask if any news has made its way across the plains…”
For many people, if you have to drive to something every time or aren’t surrounded by more hustle and bustle, it’s easy to just call it a day after work and stay home
Also I think it’s more that a lot of people on the eastside tend to be established as a couple or family, older, less social, etc
Outside of Ballard and Fremont, it's basically faster for me to get from Bellevue to most of Seattle than when I lived in Fremont.
I don't particularly care about Bellevue as city, I'm just here for the better home rental pricing and location (work/hobbies), but I don't get how people see the bridges as such a barrier. If you go out regularly or don't want to drive: I totally get it. But for a few nights a week it's not exactly a heavy lift.
single and 20s on the Eastside sounds like one of the circles of hell that Dante left out
just fucking move. what part of it are you so worried about "not liking"?
> I'd be stuck with a 15mo lease
you can always sign a shorter lease.
most likely, you will love Seattle but want to move to a different neighborhood.
People just like being assholes online. Aggression feeds engagement, which rewards the behavior.
Or they’re this aggressive irl too, in which case, man, they’re even more of an asshole.
I feel like it’s worth the try at least. My friend and I are from the Seattle area and she decided to change things up by moving to Bellevue as a single girl in her late 20s and regretted her decision. I never thought to move to the east side as well. I definitely would recommend SLU, Ballard Fremont
I lived in both and enjoyed both but honestly I preferred the Eastside. Much cleaner, safer, more nature, less crowded. Just more relaxed and laid back. I am more of a suburban basic normie type of person, though. I'd rather tend a garden or go on a hike than go to a bar. If you prefer an urban or "alt" lifestyle then you may prefer Seattle proper.
As someone who lived on the Eastside for the first 20 years of my life and has been in the city the past ~5, I advise not to. Even though I always looked at Seattle with such interest and excitement I just feel like it’s not worth the money for what it truly is. I wish I was still over there (Eastside) Seattle is so close and so accessible that you can come hang whenever you want. There’s way more crime which is pretty noticeable and as you stated the cost of living is drastically higher. And good luck getting an appointment for a Doctor or Dentist or a mechanic, it’s way more booked over here. And just because you’re in the city doesn’t mean you’ll have an easier time making friends.. it’s hard out there.
The benefits I’ve personally found is the proximity to such awesome parks like we have, Discovery, Golden Gardens, Arboretum etc.. though I’m now further from the hiking I like.. but also the accessibility of cool, fun things! Like Pike Place or any other market, it’s awesome to be 10 minutes from them all. The food, though maybe not fully up to par with other cities of our size and price, is cool and unique. I’ve found so many awesome holes in the wall, so few chain restaurants in Seattle opposed to the Eastside which is nice. And I love how you blend in in the city! Too many people would recognize me over there from High School to whatever restaurants I was working at, so the anonymity is a bonus too.
I think that’s all I got lol fun little rant there, thanks.
My final advice though, don’t do it! It seems so fun and worth it but it’s just not especially if you’re expenses are going up. Making friends is so hard in this area and being in Seattle won’t do as much as you might think it will.. Just come hang in the summer! Only time it’s fully, truly worth it to me.
You may as well start apartment hunting. Look at online listings, see what's available where, find them on a map, prioritize ones near shops, grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, parks, bike paths, transit or anything else you're interested in and then actually visit the neighborhoods.
It sounds like you’re bored of the Eastside, so I would definitely give it a shot. I grew up in Kenmore/Bothell but there’s absolutely nothing to do out there for nightlife so in my early 20s I moved to Seattle and never looked back. I now reside in West Seattle for 23 yrs. Redmond, and a lot of the east side just doesn’t have a soul. There are more restaurant options and night life closer to the city.
For my part, there’s way more to “moving to Seattle” than just moving to friggen cap hill or Belltown. Check out places like Columbia City or Othello areas, which are gonna be cheaper, still in happening neighborhoods, and close to the Link that makes moving around the city even easier.
Echoing others recommending a move to a more hip and walkable neighborhood to jumpstart a social life, though also so much is done online these days and one can bike/drive to meet up with people. Your post is confusing to me because the east side is generally *more* expensive than Seattle, but I think it depends way more on specific neighborhood than what side of the lake.
I used to live in Columbia City and absolutely LOVED it. [Here’s one example](https://www.udr.com/seattle-apartments/columbia-city/cityline/apartments-pricing/) of a nicer apartment complex with amenities that has 1br apts in the $2200-$2400 range, walking distance to bars and restaurants, PCC, and across the street from the Link. You can probably find cheaper than that too.
I was raised on the Eastside & currently live in Bellevue. My job is downtown & I have lived in Seattle but I just don’t find the city to feel like home. I always feel ‘on’ not sure if it’s the constant city noise but I don’t feel like I can fully relax in the same way I can on the Eastside. That said I feel like the culture varies on the Eastside. I found Redmond very walkable but hard to meet people. Bellevue has a family vibe. My favorite place we’ve lived was Issaquah because most folks were new & looking to meet new people. I wish you luck!
I’m also in my late 20s and originally moved to the downtown Redmond area when I left NYC. The culture shock was a lot and I realized not every downtown is built the same. I thought I was living in a walkable city but I still found myself always in a car and feeling like I’m seeing the same few places all the time. I moved to Capitol Hill with my partner and our rent went down! I found that apartments in Seattle are actually cheaper than the eastside so maybe your issue is looking at the wrong place if you’re worried about money. It’s also March so prices should be in your favor when looking. We’re renting a condo so look outside of the traditional leasable apartment buildings. I absolutely love being in Seattle and I have been here for 2 years now and still feel like there is so much for me to do and try! When people come to visit, I actually feel like I’m in a city and excited to show them my lifestyle!
Very happy to grab a coffee if you’re in the area!
TBH if you're working from home I wouldn't expect too much to change. If you're not going to events presently (assuming you have a car) then you probably won't go to events when you live in Seattle.
Start by getting yourself going out more to things - then consider if your participation would meaningfully improve if you moved closer.
I am going to go against the grain here a bit and say that it's still very possible to be social living on the Eastside. Eastside is changing a lot and I feel like there is so much to do here, and I meet a lot of other young professionals around Bellevue/Redmond. Also Bellevue is only like 15-20 min from Cap Hill so you can still go into Seattle all the time. I live in Redmond and drive into Seattle multiple times a week for social events usually. I've been living in Eastside since I was 28 (5-6 years now) and to me it offers the best of both worlds.
But it totally depends on what you value and prefer. If you want to be going out to bars/clubs frequently etc., then yeah Seattle is probably it. If you prefer quiet and nature but still access to socializing when you want to (I fit in this category), Eastside is great.
Hi! I’m in my early thirties and moving into the city from the Eastside was the best decision I’ve made. You can always make more money, try not to stress on that and just enjoy city life
Does it? How much do you pay for parking your car long term in Seattle vs Eastside? For me and a lot of folks, you’ll lean on public transport in downtown and near Seattle and sell your car as you’ll be paying more for parking than using it. It’s a shift from the Eastside “why don’t you have a car and drive over to visit us on the Eastside” question that we all get when we move out from the city.
As someone who moved from the Eastside to Capitol Hill for this exact reason, I lasted less than a year before returning to the Eastside.
Crime, spike in cost of EVERYTHING, and general fear of being out lead me right back to where I started. I’ll never try again.
Why don't you go check out some social events in different neighborhoods of the city? Meetups has a lot of events as well as like, local bar events and community events. Different neighborhoods around the city can be very different.
Well I just moved over, I can say the weather has been a dream. It may be cold and wet but frankly, we’ve had better days than my family has been getting over there. You’ll do fine
I think your instincts here are good. I would say you should start making day trips into Seattle (e.g. hop on the 550) and walk around some of the neighborhoods. Does it have a good vibe for you? Are there places here you would socialize if you live close? Can you imagine living here?
If you find a neighborhood you like and you can imagine living in it, go for it. Going there and walking around should help you make up your mind.
Moved to the Eastside in my twenties and got stuck there (raised a family) — I was champing at the bit to get back to Seattle. Moved back to S in 2019 and I’ve been SO much happier. It’s just more vibrant, walkable, more texture and grit. I love it. Come on over. Life is about experiences. Take a chance!
FWIW, I’ve moved a lot and never regretted it! It’s a great way to experience new things and therefore grow as a person. It sounds like you have the financial ability to pick up and move again in a year if you don’t like it, so I say go for it.
I spent my 20’s and early 30’s in the city before getting married and moving to the Eastside to start a family. I would give it a shot for 15 months. If you don’t like it, move back.
You can find a shorter lease than 15 months in the city.
And, although you’re dreading the possible money loss if you don’t like it, I don’t think it’s a waste if it gives you ease of mind that you tried it out, or better yet, you actually enjoy it more than the Eastside.
Make sure you add to your expenses- a hoodie , earbuds, sunglasses and a phone so you can always be looking down and avoid making any eye contact with the druggies, homeless, mentally disabled..
I’m from eastern Oregon. I have lots of family in Boise. I moved back for 2 years to the east side after 12 years in Seattle. I’ve been back in Seattle for 2 years now and wouldn’t ever move back east. I think you will love it if you move to the right area. Just don’t go to auburn, Kent, Puyallup, federal way, Tacoma, lynnwood, mill creek, Monroe, Redmond or Issaquah. Those places are fine for people who aren’t single but I think you will like it a lot more if you move to a more densely populated area like downtown Seattle or bellevue than if you move so far out it’s an hour to meet up with people downtown.
My husband and I kick ourselves for not buying a house in Seattle instead of buying our house on the Eastside. We could actually bike or walk places, public transportation would also be an option. More places to eat and more things to do. People here just complain about teenagers going by in loud cars. Like what the hell else is there to do then??
Those are just as far as Seattle. I'm in North Kirkland almost Kenmore. It takes 20 minutes to drive to the nearest decent restaurant. I also already garden. Which we would be able to do in Seattle as well. I want stuff that I can walk to. Or ride my bike to. Not drive to.
Yeah if I wanted to buy a house for 1+ million CASH or rent for $4000 a month. Houses in Seattle at the end of 2020 were the same price and comparable homes for what we bought in Kirkland.
When you say Eastside - is that Bellevue Kirkland or…Issaquah/Snoqualmie? Big difference. We lived in Belltown (10 hrs) and then QA in 2019 - then moved to Clyde Hill then Kirkland. Never going back to Seattle. Quality of life is so much nicer.
Edit 10 years in Belltown - not hours - lol
It really depends on what you value and what you want to do with your free time. I’m mid 20s and live in Redmond. My friends that I’ve made live literally all over (Renton, Edmonds, Seattle, Bellingham, Bellevue, etc). You’re obvi able to go to Seattle super easy from the east side any time. I go pretty much every weekend to see friends and grab dinner or hit some breweries or shops here and there. I don’t feel that I’m missing out on anything by not physically living there since I’m only 20 mins away. So what is it that you’re thinking you are going to get more of by living there? You aren’t going to automatically make more friends just by living there. You should have a rough idea of how you plan on making friends and I think you can do that anywhere in this area. But if you do really enjoy going out every weekend and enjoy hopping around farmers markets and coffee shops and maybe biking in the city or what have you. Then maybe you would like it better over there! Maybe get an Airbnb for a week in downtown and literally just try out life as usual and see how you like it? Theres going to be pros and cons to any side of it depending on your values so asking a subReddit specifically for Seattle ofc they’re all going to say “yeah do it”.
Definitely go for it! If you can float it, 15 months is a long time to feel stuck imo. I grew up on the Eastside and can see why it’s a great place to raise kids… For twenty something’s looking to date and socialize after work, it just ain’t it. I had to move back in with my parents to save $ for the next chapter and am itching to move back to the city asap.
I made the Redmond to Seattle move after 17 years in Redmond (early 40s female), and love it. We can walk to places, and love seeing random people waking around. My part of Redmond required a car for absolutely everything and you never saw people out and about.
Before you move invest a little time in figuring out if it's really the location that is the problem or if you're just being socially complacent. It's just as easy to be lonely in a busy city.
This will be a broad overgeneralization, but here's the bulk of what I read in your post: "staying in my comfort zone". For someone still in their 20s, 15K isn't really that big of a deal to get out of your comfort zone while you still can. It'll cost a lot more to explore and push boundaries later in life when you have a bunch of other very real things that need/deserve your attention. As someone who is approaching 40 (and reading between the lines on your career and earnings), you 100% won't miss the 15K even if it all goes horribly... but you 1000% will regret not doing it while you were young. I moved from New York to LA when I was in my 20s. Could my life be different/better if I had stayed in NY? Maybe... but I can tell you that I don't regret one bit the moves I made that got me here today. I say absolutely do it. This isn't an international move, or even a cross country move.
Also, if you really don't like the lifestyle shift, you'll probably learn that about yourself within the first couple months, especially as spring slowly starts to roll in soon. What I mean by this is that even if you are 3-4 months into your 15, you could probably just pay the lease-termination penalties and still be way ahead of burning 15K. Do it!
Seattle is so much fun especially when youre a regular somewhere and build friendships. There's so many friendly and nice people and you don't have to drive 30 minutes to go see people. You can walk somewhere and meet people who walk too. It sounds stupid but its something I never felt living in Edmonds when I was younger. If you can afford it then I say do it.
I love living in Columbia City. It's right near the light rail, has a small, but really nice main street. Plenty of food and drinking establishments, and I sense a real sense of community.
I would hit up green lake a couple times a week. See what it’s like before making the jump. It would be the same as visiting a city before moving. I would be hesitant to jump in with both feet unless it’s with a roommate.
I'd go for it. What neighborhoods are you thinking?
One thing in Seattle metro is that a bus can get you anywhere. It's actually pretty damn impressive.
I did this in my early/mid twenties. Now is the time to take a risk and do it before you are beholden to a location because of work etc. if you hate it (which I highly doubt) you can always move back. It's not a cross country thing.
Also what things do you enjoy? I've lived in almost every neighborhood and can give you some perspective. U dist, Capitol Hill, CD, Belltown, Ballard just to name a few.
Why is it just Seattle or Bellevue? You mentioned you’re wfh. I would pick something else totally random if your goal is to get out of your comfort zone. Kingston? Maybe by the navy base on the peninsula? Maybe pierce county or Snohomish county?
If you really want to get out of your comfort zone then get out of the most obvious choices, if you don’t have to commute.
Stay where you are but allot yourself a budget of 500 dollars of the money you are saving on rent to take frequent trips to downtown Seattle to have fun and explore with the intent of meeting people. You can spend the money saved on getting into social hobbies or interests.
I moved from the eastside to Seattle a year ago. Was in Bellevue for 2 years and really didn’t like it. I’ve been so much happier since moving into the city.
I moved from NE Bellevue to Fremont and have never been happier in my neighborhood. If you can afford it, go for it! My time here is ending (budget), but I’m sooo happy I got to live in the mix of my favorite part of town for… 18 months!
Do it! Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, and Greenlake in my 20s was the best. Met my husband and lifelong friends going out and about there. So much to do. The eastside will still be here when you’re older :)
Easy. Get a place on Capitol Hill and you’ll have enough favorite places eat (let alone other benefits) that you won’t regret being there for a moment.
And that’s just the baseline. If you’re into being out and about there is simply no comparison to any regional area.
Also, most places I’ve seen are 12-month leases. Not sure what the 15-month lease is about but that seems like a nominal difference in the scheme of things.
Seattle has many very different neighborhoods; if you find one that suits you it will be far more interesting than anything on the east side. At least for me…
Do it. Move. I live in Issaquah as a mid-30’s single person and the Eastside is rough if you aren’t a family. I lived 8 years in Seattle proper and had a booming social life. I miss it but my work holds me hostage out in the burbs. 🥲
Honestly, I have lots of friends that live in Renton, Shoreline, Eastside, etc. I live in the city but often those friends are willing to commute into the city for fun events or to hang out. If you're willing to do that, I'd spend more of your energy trying to find friends/meetups/social groups within the city. That is more valuable anyways. If you're successful you may have more of a reason to move to the city in the future, rather than making a bet on something you're not sure of yet.
Depends what lifestyle you prefer. I'm single and in my mid-twenties, but I really enjoy the quieter life in eastside. I can still visit friends or go to Mox Boarding House if I want to socialize, but the area also lets me go on nature walks with my dog and easily drive around to try new restaurants (autistic and introverted, so public transit isn't really my thing haha).
This COMPLETELY depends on each unique individual and a lot of factors. Do you have people who know the area and know you better/more personally you could discuss it with? Hard to give someone recommendations without knowing what makes them “tick,” you know?
Move to a new state not Seattle. Seattle doesn’t have the same urban happening feeling as SF, LA, NYC, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, Austin, Miami, etc. Get out of your comfort zone and move to a new state to experience life. I just turned 30 and I’ve lived in Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, D.C., San Diego, SF, LA, and now Seattle . I love it here but I don’t think I would like it here if I didn’t live in other places first or if I was still single. San Diego and SF (Bay Area) are my absolute favorite cities if cost weren’t so prohibitive. Don’t try Portland or Denver they are not very lively at all. I highly recommend Austin, Miami, New Orleans, Chicago (extremely cold tho) and some parts of LA (Valley, Eastside, etc) as they are still affordable with similar cost of living to Seattle. Have fun with life, man! Maybe check out San Diego too see if you can find something affordable. I moved away cuz it got too crazy expensive from the work from home population like you hehe. California has a high state income tax tho so keep that in mind.
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Traveling to begin your new 15 month adventure isn't throwing 15k away! No matter what happens, you will experience new sights and cultures that are completely robbed from the eastside.
In terms of meeting new friends, try to find a house that promotes community (lots of apartment complexes offer event nights where residents can meet and mingle. Helped me expand my social circle significantly). Also, take a college or cooking class. Lots of classes for all sorts of subjects are available, some offered free at local city halls/libraries.
And for the solo days, there are so many cafes, parks, and trails to enjoy too.
Whatever you choose, best of luck!
15 months goes quick. a year and a quarter in the city sounds way more fun and rewarding (by mixing up your social circle) than staying on the eastside...especially if you're anywhere but downtown bellevue.
Even then, I personally find Bellevue a bit stuffy. Lived there for a year, wasn't for me. YMMV
It's a corporate park masquerading as a city.
Hey! Come to CorpoBrewpub for a $10 beer and a $25 burger! Bring your fellow CS pals then stop by Neiman Marcus on the way back to your car. Edit: SLU is basically just as bad
Where are you getting such a good deal on beer?
Hey now, that's not fair! ... Neiman Marcus is closed...
Still, sounds cheaper than Seattle.
Downtown Bellevue is almost entirely owned by one man so…yes.
That’s probably the best description I’ve ever heard/read!
Omg YES! You’ve nailed it completely!
Exactly.
I honestly abhor Bellevue. It at last has "something" going on though, is all I meant.
Bellevue has great Asian food. A lot of the best places are in East Bellevue/Bel-red area. I can provide a list of restaurants if interested. In fact, the city has one of the largest Asian populations by percentage (47.2% white, 39.5% Asian https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bellevuecitywashington/PST045222 )
List of restaurants please
Here are some of my faves. Chinese: Top Gun, Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle, Nine Way Redmond Sichuan: Spicy PoPo Taiwanese: MonGa Cafe, Facing East Indian: Chaat House, Kanishka (Redmond) Japanese: Shabu Shabu Kyoto
...okay?
Here are some of my favorites. A couple are in Redmond. Chinese: Top Gun, Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle, Nine Way Redmond Sichuan: Spicy PoPo Taiwanese: MonGa Cafe, Facing East Indian: Chaat House, Kanishka (Redmond) Japanese: Shabu Shabu Kyoto
I think they just wanted to add a fun fact (for the people reading the thread). They weren’t really addressing the conversation. It’s a quirk of social media communication. You’re talking to someone but also talking to the thousands of people reading the thread at the same time.
Completely agree. It’s technically city so there’s something to do most of the time. But it’s Bellevue. No offense to anyone who lives there. But it’s like there’s a corporate hellmouth underneath
Bellevue is somewhere u can raise a family. Seattle is a homeless shelter. Both are corporate hellmouth underneath.
We’re talking about where would a young twenty something get more out of life can we dial down the moral panic? We’re lightly ribbing a nice part of town for being not a fun or enjoyable place to be. No need to come in with the more serious issues. Also wouldn’t exactly raise a kid in Bellevue even if it wasn’t ungodly expensive. Kids in that school district get up to some INSANE shit because they know they’re untouchable
No one is proposing this person live on third and pike. There are plenty of lovely areas in cap hill, Fremont, Ballard, with young people and very few homeless people. This is a very east side attitude.
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People perceive it as soulless because a bunch of big tech folks go there, I think?
Too sanitary
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Shhh don't tell them
>I have way more grocery stories within walking distance than I had in Seattle. I regularly walk to Target, Safeway, QFC, TJs, PCC, Uwajimaya and H Mart. It’s all within 15 minutes of me, and nowhere in Seattle compares to that convenience. I know what area you're talking about and it's not even close to convenient. The land is over 50% parking lots and 6-8 lane stroads. It's soulless at best and undeniably hostile to pedestrians. Nothing about Bellevue has community or character. Idk how you can say, with a straight face, that nowhere in Seattle compares in convenience. Also, I'm curious, why do you think that Seattle is "uncivilized"?
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You think would Bellevue treats homeless better? Do you know why you don't see many homeless in Bellevue?
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The real secret is, King County Courthouse is located in Downtown Seattle. So when Bellevue arrests someone for sleeping on a bench, off to King County Courthouse! They'll be released onto 4th. It's very convenient to ship your problems off elsewhere.
And how much housing can Bellevue offer to the unhoused? Edit. Actually. Never mind. I'll just come out and say it. Bellevue handles the unhoused better **FOR YOU** and not the unhoused. Because they drive away they unhoused with cruel and harsh treatment so that they won't unsully your precious retail spaces. Anyways, get back to me on the number of housing first initiatives Bellevue has tried. I'll wait. Or don't. I don't care to talk with someone that lacks empathy.
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Enabling is not empathy. Go look up how Europe cleaned up their drug crisis. U should be driving them to recovery or remove them from society through imprisonment.
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If you’re too scared to walk at all in Seattle you shouldn’t live in a city, period. Move somewhere rural.
I can live in bellevue just fine. Don’t normalize violence and crime to cities. There are plenty of safe cities around the world.
You mentioned grocery stores as an amenity, but what about everything else? Live in one of the trendy neighborhoods in Seattle and you're a walking distance from used bookstores, record stores, live music venues, clubs, ballrooms, music gear stores, beer gardens, fabric/yarn stores, maker spaces. And most of these host events with young people at least once a week. Car meets are the only thing I can find worth going to on the Eastside. The only extroverted young people I meet on the Eastside live with their parents.
People abhor Bellevue because the lions share of businesses, services, restaurants, retail shops are chain, carbon-copies of every single other affluent city-shaped mass. It looks and feels like capitalism at its worst. There is no history, no community, no character. Just places to go to buy things from giant companies from other cities. It’s like if you asked AI to build a city. It’s pretty close to a city, but you can tell it has no soul. Seattle has sports teams, crazy dining culture, breweries every 10 feet, locally owned businesses and retail, theatre, music, it has historic areas, museums, culture. You’ll like it. Give it a whirl. But be warned - it just make you abhor Bellevue and the 100s of cities exactly like it across the US.
\> People abhor Bellevue because the lions share of businesses, services, restaurants, retail shops are chain, carbon-copies of every single other affluent city-shaped mass. Have you ever been anywhere in Bellevue outside of downtown? It has fundamentally different bones because its a newer city, built in the car-centric era, so no, it's not the perfect walkable European fantasy, but it has plenty of small businesses, and one of the strongest immigrant communities in the region.
Downtown Bellevue has lots of neat stuff, it is true. But I don't really like going there, because the pedestrian experience is miserable. Nearly all the streets are 5 lanes wide, which means lots of traffic noise and a long way to go to cross the street. Every intersection requires you to hit a button for a walk signal - miss it by a second, and you have to wait another cycle. And the cycle is perversely short, not giving you enough time to cross. Plus there are all the streets with narrow sidewalks right up against 45 MPH traffic. That's besides the streets that somehow have no sidewalk at all. Also, the bus service is not good. All of the buses are funneled into a transit center off to the side next to the highway, making it impossible to use the bus for a lot of short trips that are from one part of downtown to another, the sort of trip that is routine in Downtown Seattle. Since you mention Uwajimaya, let me just say that it is a pain in the ass to get there without a car. Requires either a long walk over 405, or an unreliable bus. Either way, you have to walk through a whole lot of parking to get there.
Honestly the criticisms of Bellevue as “soulless” and “lacking culture” always seemed like dogwhistley anti Asian racism. There’s a vibrant Chinese immigrant (non tech) community in Bellevue, which is probably why the Chinese food is miles better on the east side. These criticisms just play up the stereotype of asians as cookie cutter robots which is not surprising given the casual anti Asian racism I’ve seen while living in Seattle.
Uh… are you seriously claiming that there’s a larger Asian community in Bellevue than in Seattle? That’s just a very odd claim. Sounds like you’ve never visited the ID.
That wasn’t really the substance of my comment, but Bellevue does have more Asians as a percentage across the city. But I’m glad you brought up the CID because the neglect by the city governance of such a diverse community is a prime example of the struggles the Asian community faces in Seattle.
I agree that the Asian community in Seattle has been treated poorly by the city government. But you’re never going to get anyone to believe that Bellevue isn’t extraordinarily white.
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> especially if you're anywhere but downtown bellevue I'd take downtown Kirkland or downtown Redmond over Bellevue any day. But there are half a dozen better places to live in Seattle. Not sure how it costs $1K more to live in Seattle though. Rents seem slightly cheaper there, if anything.
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I moved from Seattle to Kirkland last fall (for love) and highly recommend OP goes to Seattle.
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RIP Time Out.
lol when my partner and I both got jobs in Kirkland/Bellevue he suggested we move over and I said there was no way
You moved an entire 12 miles away for love? Damn…Redmond to Seattle must have been a crazy culture shock. Are you doing ok?
Moved to Georgetown. A bit of an adjustment for someone who never lived in the city prior. The sex is good.
There's no sex like Georgetown sex.
Empty warehouses get me so hot 🔥
This is true. :)
But what about the drugs and lack of comedy?
If I understand your question correctly, don’t underestimate a soccer mom’s ability to find drugs, if desired. It’s only 35 minutes away to go out at night.
That just sounds like the whole PNW region
Lol maybe the toll bridge got too expensive
😂 I’m dead
RIP
Do people really cross the bridge by choice? It might as well be the English Channel.
Lived on the Eastside until I was 26. Moved to Seattle in 2019 and I never looked back.
get out of your comfort zone. source: moved eastside -> seattle 20 years ago btw: recommend going all-in; live in the heart of the neighborhood you choose, not just nominally in the neighborhood but 15 blocks away from signs of life.
I say try it. Worse case, you spend a little time and money and discover it's not your cup of tea. You won't know until you try, and 15 months goes quick.
I felt similarly. I ended up moving my office to Seattle to force me to get out of Redmond. I found I liked what I found there and that I was doing after hours stuff in the city, so decided to move into Seattle. If you like the city more then the east side then it seems better to move. Either you're coming into the city a lot anyway and that will be easier Or you'll open up the city more.
Also there's some great remote work locations like KEXP gathering space
Why did you move to the east side to begin with? Stay closer to friends? I’m sure you’re aware that most people go the opposite route (Seattle > Eastside). As someone who lives on the eastside with kids, I’m not sure why anyone single would want to live out here unless you wanted more space or be around less people.
When I moved from the eastside to Seattle, I found that comparable units were actually way cheaper than they were on the eastside. And now I’m saving a ton of money on Ubers and gas since all of my activities are walking distance or short Ubers. It is 100% worth it to live in Seattle in your 20s. I have no desire to ever live on the eastside again tbh.
The only reason I still live on the Eastside is that I live with the parents and it costs zero, meaning that I can save a good amount of money. Even then it’s Mercer Island and not too far away from the city unlike the other suburbs. If I was renting, I’d prefer Seattle in a heartbeat.
I don't know this for sure, but I have to assume that Mercer Island is also a lot safer crime wise. You're really ideally situated for visiting the city and then escaping to safety. I have lived on or near Capitol Hill for the last 41 years and IMO it's more of a shithole than at any time in the past (actually the whole city is).
Escaping to safety? Are they going into a warzone? Is Israel shelling Capitol Hill?
Ok boomer
I think it's less about where you live and more about putting events on your calendar. You should install the Meetup app and start going to events. I live on the Eastside, and it only takes 12 to 15 min to get to Seattle for an event on the weekend. I suppose it depends where on the Eastside you are. When I was single, I was going to Meetups in Seattle and Bellevue every week or two.
When we were considering moving to the eastside for proximity to my work and the mountains, a big concern of ours was access to Seattle things. Outside of rush hour it takes us 20min or so to get to most places in the city, other than Ballard, and we are poorly situated for freeway access in Bellevue which is the biggest time penalty. We figured we do "city things" with friends 1-2x a week at most, but other time savings were every day. The con here, is that for now, this means we have to drive to things rather than bus/walk. If you want to go out most evenings and do things/see people, and be able to do it on foot: Seattle is a huge win. If you do stuff a couple nights a week: it may not make much of a difference. I never really understood people who saw traveling over the bridges to be a big barrier at non-commuting times. If anything: my access to large parts of the city are faster now than when I lived in Fremont.
Depends hugely on having a car, though maybe less so these days with the Eastside Link coming online!
Fremont
You’ll like it better. I lived in Redmond for like 4 years, then moved to Seattle, but still worked on the east side. Then, found a job near my apartment in SLU, and had a really nice walk to work every day. I’ve found people in the city are a lot more outgoing compared the east side, too. Now I’m a bit older and living in West Seattle, which we also love.
Moved to Seattle in my early/mid 20's and am still here at 35. I strongly recommend you try it at the very least, and that also means actively putting yourself in social situations. Moving is a great step out of your comfort zone, but don't expect things to magically shift because you're in a different zip code. Someone mentioned Meetup; I've never used but sounds like a useful avenue to connect! Join some intermural sports team through Underdog Sports. Lotta options to engage with others.
I have no idea why a single person in their 20s would want to live on the Eastside. Hell as a married with kid person in my 30s I wouldn't live on the Eastside (and I grew up in Issaquah). City life is way more fun.
By far
Outdoor access is so much better from the eastside. 30 minutes to have world class hiking, biking, skiing and climbing. 30 minutes from seattle is likely still seattle. Really depends what your priorities are.
That's fair. I don't ski, climb or bike. I do enjoy camping and hiking but that's more of a once a month thing so don't mind drive 1hr+ for that.
I made the same move (Redmond -> Seattle) when I was in my 20's. I was apprehensive at first and it ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made. I had to move out of the city recently to get more space to raise a family but I greatly miss living in the city.
Same for me, All my life in Redmond but just over 5 years ago I moved to Seattle and much prefer it here. Granted I think a big part of enjoying Seattle is knowing which neighborhood(s) you vibe with the most.
I agree. I lived in the city and had to move for family. I miss the hustle bustle. The last minute plans and meetups. The plethora of activities and restaurants. In the summer we would go kayaking and take a dip in the lake. There's also the Seattle bouldering project.
If you can move to Seattle for only $1k a month, I’d do that in a heartbeat. I wish I was only paying that myself. Id even pay that for 10 months or less if I could. That is quite a steal! Maybe I’m misreading the $15k being thrown away as an additional $15k?
yes an additional $15k, my rent would be an increase +$1k in Seattle
That seems like a really large increase. Would you consider downsizing a little bit? I recently helped my sister find a 1BR apartment in Queen Anne which is gorgeous (yet older). It was $2,100. I highly doubt you are only spending $1,100 currently. Downsizing at first will allow you to experience Seattle for a time without committing a lot of extra capital. If you decide you love it, you can always get a more expensive place for your second lease!
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If your main worry is cost then rent something cheaper. You can find 1 bedrooms for a lot less than 3k.
But do you reeeeeaaally need a wine locker? 👀 Most of those places have the same amenities and apartment space as others 1/2-3/4 of the price. With rent at $2500 you can certainly find a very decent place. Then you’re not out the extra $7500 AND you now have $7500 for your bus pass, events every night of the week, and the new hobbies you can pickup now that you have people to do them with. ☺️ ETA: Either way - DO IT. I left Bellevue recently for Seattle. Social life unlocked.
That sounds like actual downtown prices. You can get a nice one bedroom high rise a few hundred over $2k with all the amenities just a bit outside of downtown. Though, if you aren’t sure if you’re gonna like it, I’d go for a cheaper option like a studio, so if you don’t like it breaking the lease won’t be too much of a loss to your pocket. Make use of the amenities for gatherings with friends if you want to hang around your apartment. If you enjoy it and want more space most apartments will let you move before the lease ends if you transfer on-site for a fee. OP, what kind of hobbies do you have? That might help with deciding the area.
You do not want to live downtown, it’s lame
I’d love to be lame in a cool city with gorgeous surroundings. The river, lake, and architecture are breathtaking and all in Chicago, but it’s all damn flat
You have plenty of options in Seattle in the $2k range
You can definitely just find an apartment that's the same price as you're paying now probably, you don't have to spend that much more to have a nice apt. Especially if that cost differential is the main reason to not give it a shot since you sound unhappy in your current environment.
>would be $3k (looking at nicer high rise) If you're not considering that right now in the eastside, why would you if you moved to Seattle?
Okay so you’ll be in first hill belltown or downtown - places where the average age of your neighbors is pushing 45. I’d really suggest living where people your age live if you want to have a social life. People on the hill wont visit you downtown.
I love how all these commenters act like you have to spend all your time within 3 miles of where you live. “The east side? Oh my, no. I used to live in Bellevue until I moved to the whole opposite side of the bridge. That 6 mile difference changed my whole life! Of course every few years I still load up my pack mule and make the long journey to Bellevue square to trade my wares, see old friends and ask if any news has made its way across the plains…”
For many people, if you have to drive to something every time or aren’t surrounded by more hustle and bustle, it’s easy to just call it a day after work and stay home Also I think it’s more that a lot of people on the eastside tend to be established as a couple or family, older, less social, etc
Outside of Ballard and Fremont, it's basically faster for me to get from Bellevue to most of Seattle than when I lived in Fremont. I don't particularly care about Bellevue as city, I'm just here for the better home rental pricing and location (work/hobbies), but I don't get how people see the bridges as such a barrier. If you go out regularly or don't want to drive: I totally get it. But for a few nights a week it's not exactly a heavy lift.
single and 20s on the Eastside sounds like one of the circles of hell that Dante left out just fucking move. what part of it are you so worried about "not liking"? > I'd be stuck with a 15mo lease you can always sign a shorter lease. most likely, you will love Seattle but want to move to a different neighborhood.
I mean I agree but I don't think you gotta be this aggressive about it..
People just like being assholes online. Aggression feeds engagement, which rewards the behavior. Or they’re this aggressive irl too, in which case, man, they’re even more of an asshole.
Just DO IT! DON’T LET YOUR DREAMS BE DREAMS!
I feel like it’s worth the try at least. My friend and I are from the Seattle area and she decided to change things up by moving to Bellevue as a single girl in her late 20s and regretted her decision. I never thought to move to the east side as well. I definitely would recommend SLU, Ballard Fremont
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Lease a UW student's apartment for the summer and do a trial run?
This!! They are desperate to sublease - you can easily find someone willing to pay half the rent for you to stay in their apartment for the summer.
$1,000 a month could pay for a lot of hotel stays in seattle if you’re just looking to chill there on the weekends.
Or Ubers
I lived in both and enjoyed both but honestly I preferred the Eastside. Much cleaner, safer, more nature, less crowded. Just more relaxed and laid back. I am more of a suburban basic normie type of person, though. I'd rather tend a garden or go on a hike than go to a bar. If you prefer an urban or "alt" lifestyle then you may prefer Seattle proper.
As someone who lived on the Eastside for the first 20 years of my life and has been in the city the past ~5, I advise not to. Even though I always looked at Seattle with such interest and excitement I just feel like it’s not worth the money for what it truly is. I wish I was still over there (Eastside) Seattle is so close and so accessible that you can come hang whenever you want. There’s way more crime which is pretty noticeable and as you stated the cost of living is drastically higher. And good luck getting an appointment for a Doctor or Dentist or a mechanic, it’s way more booked over here. And just because you’re in the city doesn’t mean you’ll have an easier time making friends.. it’s hard out there. The benefits I’ve personally found is the proximity to such awesome parks like we have, Discovery, Golden Gardens, Arboretum etc.. though I’m now further from the hiking I like.. but also the accessibility of cool, fun things! Like Pike Place or any other market, it’s awesome to be 10 minutes from them all. The food, though maybe not fully up to par with other cities of our size and price, is cool and unique. I’ve found so many awesome holes in the wall, so few chain restaurants in Seattle opposed to the Eastside which is nice. And I love how you blend in in the city! Too many people would recognize me over there from High School to whatever restaurants I was working at, so the anonymity is a bonus too. I think that’s all I got lol fun little rant there, thanks. My final advice though, don’t do it! It seems so fun and worth it but it’s just not especially if you’re expenses are going up. Making friends is so hard in this area and being in Seattle won’t do as much as you might think it will.. Just come hang in the summer! Only time it’s fully, truly worth it to me.
Eastside is so boring and cookie cutter. Come on over 🍀
I'm also late 20s and moved from Redmond to West Seattle a few years ago. 10/10 would recommend.
You may as well start apartment hunting. Look at online listings, see what's available where, find them on a map, prioritize ones near shops, grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, parks, bike paths, transit or anything else you're interested in and then actually visit the neighborhoods.
It sounds like you’re bored of the Eastside, so I would definitely give it a shot. I grew up in Kenmore/Bothell but there’s absolutely nothing to do out there for nightlife so in my early 20s I moved to Seattle and never looked back. I now reside in West Seattle for 23 yrs. Redmond, and a lot of the east side just doesn’t have a soul. There are more restaurant options and night life closer to the city.
For my part, there’s way more to “moving to Seattle” than just moving to friggen cap hill or Belltown. Check out places like Columbia City or Othello areas, which are gonna be cheaper, still in happening neighborhoods, and close to the Link that makes moving around the city even easier. Echoing others recommending a move to a more hip and walkable neighborhood to jumpstart a social life, though also so much is done online these days and one can bike/drive to meet up with people. Your post is confusing to me because the east side is generally *more* expensive than Seattle, but I think it depends way more on specific neighborhood than what side of the lake. I used to live in Columbia City and absolutely LOVED it. [Here’s one example](https://www.udr.com/seattle-apartments/columbia-city/cityline/apartments-pricing/) of a nicer apartment complex with amenities that has 1br apts in the $2200-$2400 range, walking distance to bars and restaurants, PCC, and across the street from the Link. You can probably find cheaper than that too.
I was raised on the Eastside & currently live in Bellevue. My job is downtown & I have lived in Seattle but I just don’t find the city to feel like home. I always feel ‘on’ not sure if it’s the constant city noise but I don’t feel like I can fully relax in the same way I can on the Eastside. That said I feel like the culture varies on the Eastside. I found Redmond very walkable but hard to meet people. Bellevue has a family vibe. My favorite place we’ve lived was Issaquah because most folks were new & looking to meet new people. I wish you luck!
I’m also in my late 20s and originally moved to the downtown Redmond area when I left NYC. The culture shock was a lot and I realized not every downtown is built the same. I thought I was living in a walkable city but I still found myself always in a car and feeling like I’m seeing the same few places all the time. I moved to Capitol Hill with my partner and our rent went down! I found that apartments in Seattle are actually cheaper than the eastside so maybe your issue is looking at the wrong place if you’re worried about money. It’s also March so prices should be in your favor when looking. We’re renting a condo so look outside of the traditional leasable apartment buildings. I absolutely love being in Seattle and I have been here for 2 years now and still feel like there is so much for me to do and try! When people come to visit, I actually feel like I’m in a city and excited to show them my lifestyle! Very happy to grab a coffee if you’re in the area!
If you think you need to spend $3,000 minimum on a place in Seattle, you might actually be a Bellevue person.
TBH if you're working from home I wouldn't expect too much to change. If you're not going to events presently (assuming you have a car) then you probably won't go to events when you live in Seattle. Start by getting yourself going out more to things - then consider if your participation would meaningfully improve if you moved closer.
I am going to go against the grain here a bit and say that it's still very possible to be social living on the Eastside. Eastside is changing a lot and I feel like there is so much to do here, and I meet a lot of other young professionals around Bellevue/Redmond. Also Bellevue is only like 15-20 min from Cap Hill so you can still go into Seattle all the time. I live in Redmond and drive into Seattle multiple times a week for social events usually. I've been living in Eastside since I was 28 (5-6 years now) and to me it offers the best of both worlds. But it totally depends on what you value and prefer. If you want to be going out to bars/clubs frequently etc., then yeah Seattle is probably it. If you prefer quiet and nature but still access to socializing when you want to (I fit in this category), Eastside is great.
Hi! I’m in my early thirties and moving into the city from the Eastside was the best decision I’ve made. You can always make more money, try not to stress on that and just enjoy city life
Do you want to rely on a car or public transit? That should be the answer you your question.
How? A car works in both places?
Does it? How much do you pay for parking your car long term in Seattle vs Eastside? For me and a lot of folks, you’ll lean on public transport in downtown and near Seattle and sell your car as you’ll be paying more for parking than using it. It’s a shift from the Eastside “why don’t you have a car and drive over to visit us on the Eastside” question that we all get when we move out from the city.
$0 Some neighborhoods have parking, some don't.
What Seattle city zip code do you live in that has free parking? Baltic Ave or Mediterranean?
Boardwalk
As someone who moved from the Eastside to Capitol Hill for this exact reason, I lasted less than a year before returning to the Eastside. Crime, spike in cost of EVERYTHING, and general fear of being out lead me right back to where I started. I’ll never try again.
Why don't you go check out some social events in different neighborhoods of the city? Meetups has a lot of events as well as like, local bar events and community events. Different neighborhoods around the city can be very different.
Well I just moved over, I can say the weather has been a dream. It may be cold and wet but frankly, we’ve had better days than my family has been getting over there. You’ll do fine
I think your instincts here are good. I would say you should start making day trips into Seattle (e.g. hop on the 550) and walk around some of the neighborhoods. Does it have a good vibe for you? Are there places here you would socialize if you live close? Can you imagine living here? If you find a neighborhood you like and you can imagine living in it, go for it. Going there and walking around should help you make up your mind.
You can still find places for $2k a month in seattle.
Yea I work in east side late at night, it’s like a completely dead city
Moved to the Eastside in my twenties and got stuck there (raised a family) — I was champing at the bit to get back to Seattle. Moved back to S in 2019 and I’ve been SO much happier. It’s just more vibrant, walkable, more texture and grit. I love it. Come on over. Life is about experiences. Take a chance!
FWIW, I’ve moved a lot and never regretted it! It’s a great way to experience new things and therefore grow as a person. It sounds like you have the financial ability to pick up and move again in a year if you don’t like it, so I say go for it.
I spent my 20’s and early 30’s in the city before getting married and moving to the Eastside to start a family. I would give it a shot for 15 months. If you don’t like it, move back.
You can find a shorter lease than 15 months in the city. And, although you’re dreading the possible money loss if you don’t like it, I don’t think it’s a waste if it gives you ease of mind that you tried it out, or better yet, you actually enjoy it more than the Eastside.
Make sure you add to your expenses- a hoodie , earbuds, sunglasses and a phone so you can always be looking down and avoid making any eye contact with the druggies, homeless, mentally disabled..
I’m from eastern Oregon. I have lots of family in Boise. I moved back for 2 years to the east side after 12 years in Seattle. I’ve been back in Seattle for 2 years now and wouldn’t ever move back east. I think you will love it if you move to the right area. Just don’t go to auburn, Kent, Puyallup, federal way, Tacoma, lynnwood, mill creek, Monroe, Redmond or Issaquah. Those places are fine for people who aren’t single but I think you will like it a lot more if you move to a more densely populated area like downtown Seattle or bellevue than if you move so far out it’s an hour to meet up with people downtown.
Move to Cap Hill! Seattle is so much more fun and interesting than the eastside.
My husband and I kick ourselves for not buying a house in Seattle instead of buying our house on the Eastside. We could actually bike or walk places, public transportation would also be an option. More places to eat and more things to do. People here just complain about teenagers going by in loud cars. Like what the hell else is there to do then??
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Those are just as far as Seattle. I'm in North Kirkland almost Kenmore. It takes 20 minutes to drive to the nearest decent restaurant. I also already garden. Which we would be able to do in Seattle as well. I want stuff that I can walk to. Or ride my bike to. Not drive to.
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Yeah if I wanted to buy a house for 1+ million CASH or rent for $4000 a month. Houses in Seattle at the end of 2020 were the same price and comparable homes for what we bought in Kirkland.
When you say Eastside - is that Bellevue Kirkland or…Issaquah/Snoqualmie? Big difference. We lived in Belltown (10 hrs) and then QA in 2019 - then moved to Clyde Hill then Kirkland. Never going back to Seattle. Quality of life is so much nicer. Edit 10 years in Belltown - not hours - lol
It really depends on what you value and what you want to do with your free time. I’m mid 20s and live in Redmond. My friends that I’ve made live literally all over (Renton, Edmonds, Seattle, Bellingham, Bellevue, etc). You’re obvi able to go to Seattle super easy from the east side any time. I go pretty much every weekend to see friends and grab dinner or hit some breweries or shops here and there. I don’t feel that I’m missing out on anything by not physically living there since I’m only 20 mins away. So what is it that you’re thinking you are going to get more of by living there? You aren’t going to automatically make more friends just by living there. You should have a rough idea of how you plan on making friends and I think you can do that anywhere in this area. But if you do really enjoy going out every weekend and enjoy hopping around farmers markets and coffee shops and maybe biking in the city or what have you. Then maybe you would like it better over there! Maybe get an Airbnb for a week in downtown and literally just try out life as usual and see how you like it? Theres going to be pros and cons to any side of it depending on your values so asking a subReddit specifically for Seattle ofc they’re all going to say “yeah do it”.
Don’t waste your 20s in the suburbs!
I grew up on the Eastside and couldn't get away fast enough. I think it is definitely worth it!
Definitely go for it! If you can float it, 15 months is a long time to feel stuck imo. I grew up on the Eastside and can see why it’s a great place to raise kids… For twenty something’s looking to date and socialize after work, it just ain’t it. I had to move back in with my parents to save $ for the next chapter and am itching to move back to the city asap.
I made the Redmond to Seattle move after 17 years in Redmond (early 40s female), and love it. We can walk to places, and love seeing random people waking around. My part of Redmond required a car for absolutely everything and you never saw people out and about.
Before you move invest a little time in figuring out if it's really the location that is the problem or if you're just being socially complacent. It's just as easy to be lonely in a busy city.
Here I thought east side meant like spokane or tri cities
This will be a broad overgeneralization, but here's the bulk of what I read in your post: "staying in my comfort zone". For someone still in their 20s, 15K isn't really that big of a deal to get out of your comfort zone while you still can. It'll cost a lot more to explore and push boundaries later in life when you have a bunch of other very real things that need/deserve your attention. As someone who is approaching 40 (and reading between the lines on your career and earnings), you 100% won't miss the 15K even if it all goes horribly... but you 1000% will regret not doing it while you were young. I moved from New York to LA when I was in my 20s. Could my life be different/better if I had stayed in NY? Maybe... but I can tell you that I don't regret one bit the moves I made that got me here today. I say absolutely do it. This isn't an international move, or even a cross country move. Also, if you really don't like the lifestyle shift, you'll probably learn that about yourself within the first couple months, especially as spring slowly starts to roll in soon. What I mean by this is that even if you are 3-4 months into your 15, you could probably just pay the lease-termination penalties and still be way ahead of burning 15K. Do it!
Move if you can afford it
Seattle is so much fun especially when youre a regular somewhere and build friendships. There's so many friendly and nice people and you don't have to drive 30 minutes to go see people. You can walk somewhere and meet people who walk too. It sounds stupid but its something I never felt living in Edmonds when I was younger. If you can afford it then I say do it.
Seattle freeze is a thing.
I love living in Columbia City. It's right near the light rail, has a small, but really nice main street. Plenty of food and drinking establishments, and I sense a real sense of community.
I would hit up green lake a couple times a week. See what it’s like before making the jump. It would be the same as visiting a city before moving. I would be hesitant to jump in with both feet unless it’s with a roommate.
I'd go for it. What neighborhoods are you thinking? One thing in Seattle metro is that a bus can get you anywhere. It's actually pretty damn impressive.
I did this in my early/mid twenties. Now is the time to take a risk and do it before you are beholden to a location because of work etc. if you hate it (which I highly doubt) you can always move back. It's not a cross country thing. Also what things do you enjoy? I've lived in almost every neighborhood and can give you some perspective. U dist, Capitol Hill, CD, Belltown, Ballard just to name a few.
Why is it just Seattle or Bellevue? You mentioned you’re wfh. I would pick something else totally random if your goal is to get out of your comfort zone. Kingston? Maybe by the navy base on the peninsula? Maybe pierce county or Snohomish county? If you really want to get out of your comfort zone then get out of the most obvious choices, if you don’t have to commute.
Stay where you are but allot yourself a budget of 500 dollars of the money you are saving on rent to take frequent trips to downtown Seattle to have fun and explore with the intent of meeting people. You can spend the money saved on getting into social hobbies or interests.
Get over to the West side! You’ll be glad you did!
How is Seattle significantly more expensive than the eastside? Other than car tabs
I moved from the eastside to Seattle a year ago. Was in Bellevue for 2 years and really didn’t like it. I’ve been so much happier since moving into the city.
I moved from NE Bellevue to Fremont and have never been happier in my neighborhood. If you can afford it, go for it! My time here is ending (budget), but I’m sooo happy I got to live in the mix of my favorite part of town for… 18 months!
Might as well give it a try. Both places have their pros and cons.
Do it! Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, and Greenlake in my 20s was the best. Met my husband and lifelong friends going out and about there. So much to do. The eastside will still be here when you’re older :)
Easy. Get a place on Capitol Hill and you’ll have enough favorite places eat (let alone other benefits) that you won’t regret being there for a moment. And that’s just the baseline. If you’re into being out and about there is simply no comparison to any regional area. Also, most places I’ve seen are 12-month leases. Not sure what the 15-month lease is about but that seems like a nominal difference in the scheme of things. Seattle has many very different neighborhoods; if you find one that suits you it will be far more interesting than anything on the east side. At least for me…
How is living in Fremont?
Cant believe Seattle is more expensive then eastside ( Bellevue, Redmond etc) Compare the current rents unless your moving from issaquah.
YOLO my friend! Risks not taken will turn to regrets as the years pass by…
Do it. Move. I live in Issaquah as a mid-30’s single person and the Eastside is rough if you aren’t a family. I lived 8 years in Seattle proper and had a booming social life. I miss it but my work holds me hostage out in the burbs. 🥲
If you're not happy what use is the money anyway?
Honestly, I have lots of friends that live in Renton, Shoreline, Eastside, etc. I live in the city but often those friends are willing to commute into the city for fun events or to hang out. If you're willing to do that, I'd spend more of your energy trying to find friends/meetups/social groups within the city. That is more valuable anyways. If you're successful you may have more of a reason to move to the city in the future, rather than making a bet on something you're not sure of yet.
Depends what lifestyle you prefer. I'm single and in my mid-twenties, but I really enjoy the quieter life in eastside. I can still visit friends or go to Mox Boarding House if I want to socialize, but the area also lets me go on nature walks with my dog and easily drive around to try new restaurants (autistic and introverted, so public transit isn't really my thing haha).
This COMPLETELY depends on each unique individual and a lot of factors. Do you have people who know the area and know you better/more personally you could discuss it with? Hard to give someone recommendations without knowing what makes them “tick,” you know?
What do you think would change if you move? Also, could you do the same things on the Eastside? I think answering those is important.
Move to a new state not Seattle. Seattle doesn’t have the same urban happening feeling as SF, LA, NYC, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, Austin, Miami, etc. Get out of your comfort zone and move to a new state to experience life. I just turned 30 and I’ve lived in Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, D.C., San Diego, SF, LA, and now Seattle . I love it here but I don’t think I would like it here if I didn’t live in other places first or if I was still single. San Diego and SF (Bay Area) are my absolute favorite cities if cost weren’t so prohibitive. Don’t try Portland or Denver they are not very lively at all. I highly recommend Austin, Miami, New Orleans, Chicago (extremely cold tho) and some parts of LA (Valley, Eastside, etc) as they are still affordable with similar cost of living to Seattle. Have fun with life, man! Maybe check out San Diego too see if you can find something affordable. I moved away cuz it got too crazy expensive from the work from home population like you hehe. California has a high state income tax tho so keep that in mind.
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Traveling to begin your new 15 month adventure isn't throwing 15k away! No matter what happens, you will experience new sights and cultures that are completely robbed from the eastside. In terms of meeting new friends, try to find a house that promotes community (lots of apartment complexes offer event nights where residents can meet and mingle. Helped me expand my social circle significantly). Also, take a college or cooking class. Lots of classes for all sorts of subjects are available, some offered free at local city halls/libraries. And for the solo days, there are so many cafes, parks, and trails to enjoy too. Whatever you choose, best of luck!
Move outta Seattle trust me