salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 92% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 6.9 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. It is a highly educated city: 66.3% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $114,560 a year. That is $55 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Washington cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Washington. It is number 176 of 192 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Kirkland?
Share of households by yearly income. 58.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Kirkland
| Size | Kirkland | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,321 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,268 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,602 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,347 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Kirkland overall?
Everyday prices in Washington overall are 7% above the U.S. average (index 107.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Kirkland, so the Washington figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Kirkland
Life in Kirkland
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kirkland?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $4,875 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,115,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $111,540 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Kirkland, WA?
Renting in Kirkland costs a median of about $2,864 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Washington median is $2,025.
How much do I need to make to live in Kirkland?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $114,560 a year, or $55 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Kirkland cheap or expensive?
Kirkland is rated OK: rent takes 21.2% of the typical household income of $162,221. It ranks 176th cheapest of 192 Washington cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Kirkland?
The median homeowner in Kirkland pays $8,001 a year in property taxes, about 0.72% of the median home value.
Is Kirkland more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Washington are 7% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Kirkland?
The median home value in Kirkland is $1,115,400, about 6.9 times the typical yearly household income.
92,621 people live in Kirkland. Numbers are typical (middle) values.