UW rentals under $800 a month in Seattle: the lowest-priced listings right now

If you're hunting for UW rentals under $800 a month in Seattle, the short version is that they exist, but they're mostly studios and micro-suites, and they don't sit on the market for long. We pulled the lowest-priced options from our current Seattle listings so you can compare them side by side.

Mid-November is a useful time to look. Some students are lining up a January move-in for spring quarter, others are already thinking about next fall, and both groups are chasing the same small pool of low-priced units. Below you'll find three listings that come in under the cap, one higher-priced extra option for comparison, and a few practical notes on what to check before you commit.

Begin your search at Off-Campus Universe, where you can browse current listings near Seattle.

Troveré - Elevated Studio Living is listed at $775/month. It's a furnished studio with one bathroom at 4309 7th Ave NE in Seattle, listed as under 5 minutes by car from campus. The listing says each studio comes with a furniture package that includes a bed, desk and chair, plus a private bathroom, and it mentions shared community kitchens, a rooftop deck and on-site laundry. The lease term field reads 4-12, so ask the lister exactly which lengths are offered. The listed start date was 3/27/2026, which has passed, so confirm current move-in dates with the lister.

Live Light. Live Bold Live the UDistrict is also listed at $775/month. This one is an unfurnished studio with one bathroom at 4516 7th Ave NE, Seattle, and it's listed as under 5 minutes by car from campus. The listing describes private bathrooms and personal kitchenettes with stainless steel appliances, along with rooftop terraces. Its lease term field also reads 4-12. The listed date was 6/30/2026, so check with the lister on what's open right now and when you could move in.

Eastlake Flats- Smart urban living comes in at $795/month, the highest of the three but still under the cap. It's a furnished studio with one bathroom at 2820 Eastlake Ave E in Seattle's Eastlake neighborhood, listed as more than 15 minutes by car from campus. The listing says the building has a rooftop deck with a BBQ, bike storage, package lockers and on-site management. The lease term field reads 6-12, and the listed date of 5/28/2026 has passed, so ask the lister for current availability.

As a different kind of option, Eastlake Fully Furnished Townhouse is listed at $6,990/month, well above the price cap. It's a furnished townhouse with two bedrooms and two bathrooms at 2825 Franklin Ave E, Seattle, listed as 5 to 10 minutes by car from campus. It's posted by an owner on a 12-month lease, with timing listed as immediately. We're including it only so you can see the other end of what's on the site right now.

What the lowest prices in Seattle actually get you

Every listing below the price cap in this roundup is a studio. That's the pattern in Seattle at this price point: you're usually trading square footage for a private space of your own. The upside is that you aren't splitting a kitchen schedule with four roommates or negotiating over a shared bathroom. The trade-off is a compact layout, so it's worth asking each lister for the unit's square footage and a floor plan before you sign anything.

Two of the three are on 7th Ave NE in Seattle, close together and both listed as under 5 minutes by car from campus. The third is in Eastlake, also in Seattle, and listed as more than 15 minutes by car. If you have a car, ask each lister whether parking is available and what it costs. If you don't, think about how you'd actually get to class every day, because the cheapest rent isn't always the cheapest month once you add commuting.

Furnishing is the other big difference. Two of the studios are listed as furnished and one isn't. A furnished studio can save you a lot of hassle if you're arriving in January with just a few suitcases. An unfurnished one gives you more control, but you'll need to budget for a bed, a desk and the basics. Ask the lister what's included so you know what you're getting on day one.

One more thing to keep in mind: all three studios have lease-term fields written as ranges, either 4-12 or 6-12. That usually means some flexibility, but don't assume. Ask the lister which lease lengths are available, whether a shorter term costs more per month, and when the lease would end. If you're only in Seattle through spring, a lease that ends in June is very different from one that runs to next fall.

UW rentals under $800 a month in Seattle: how to read the listings

When you compare UW rentals under $800 a month in Seattle, start with what the posted price covers. Ask each lister whether utilities, internet, water or trash are included or billed separately, and whether there are monthly fees on top of rent. Two studios at the same posted price can end up costing quite different amounts once those are added in.

Next, look at the dates. Several of these listings show start dates that have already passed, which often just means the date wasn't updated after the first round of tenants moved in. It doesn't tell you whether a unit is open today. Message the lister, ask what's available now and what's coming up for January or for next fall, and get the answer in writing.

Then ask about the application. Find out whether there's an application fee, what the deposit is, whether you need a co-signer, and how quickly they make a decision. In a tight market, being ready with your documents can be the difference between getting a unit and missing it.

Finally, see the place. If you can tour in person, do it. If you can't, ask for a live video walkthrough rather than relying only on photos. Look at the actual unit you'd be renting, not just a model, and ask about noise, natural light and storage. Studios live or die on small details.

If none of these fit, keep checking back. Listings change often, and new low-priced studios do get posted, especially as students line up spring moves and early fall leases over the next few months.

Tips for renting a low-priced studio near UW

• Ask the lister for the total monthly cost, including utilities and any building fees, so you can compare listings on the real number rather than base rent.

• Confirm the exact lease start and end dates in writing, especially when the posted date has already passed or the lease term is listed as a range.

• Check what furniture and appliances come with the unit, and plan a small budget for anything that doesn't, since studios fill up quickly once you start buying.

• Have your documents ready before you reach out, including proof of income or a co-signer if needed, so you can apply the same day if a unit works for you.

Ready to find your place? Browse all listings at Off-Campus Universe.

This article is provided by an independent housing resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the University of Washington.