Seattle on a Budget (How to Eat, Stay & Do It All Cheaply)

👉 Jump to: Where to Stay | Cheap & Free Things to Do | Cheap Eats | Budget Tips | FAQ

I’m a Seattle local who has navigated this city as a broke college student and beyond. I’ve picked up some serious money-saving tips in the years I’ve lived here, so I can help you figure out how to enjoy Seattle on a budget.

I’ll share money-saving tips and ideas for cheap and free things to do in Seattle. I’ve also included affordable places to stay and where to find inexpensive and delicious food. Let’s dive in!

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Where to Stay in Seattle on a Budget

You can find affordable places to stay all over the city, but the best spots are in walkable Seattle neighborhoods with multiple public transit options, especially ones with a light rail stop.

Check out my guide on where to stay in Seattle for a complete breakdown of my 11 recommended areas. For now, we’ll dive into the areas that will give you the best bang for your buck.

University District

👉 Best Area For Cheap Eats & Affordable Attractions | ✨ Best Budget Hotel: College Inn Hotel

The University District is my #1 suggested neighborhood for budget travelers. The hotels are generally more affordable or offer a better value for the price. College Inn Hotel is consistently one of the most affordable hotels – just know prices increase during major university events like graduation.

You’ll find many tasty and inexpensive cafes, pubs, takeaway spots, and tea shops in the neighborhood. Transportation is also a non-issue here. The light rail has two stops in the University District, providing easy access to downtown, SeaTac Airport, and as far north as Lynnwood. 

Several of the best free and cheap activities are nearby, too. Easily reach the Ballard Locks, Green Lake Park, and the Burke-Gilman Trail. Fremont, Ballard, and Wallingford are all west of the U-District, and are perfect neighborhoods to familiarize yourself with Seattle’s quirky culture.

The University District is home to the University of Washington (hence the name), so the area has fun, youthful vibes. Keep in mind that it may be a little crowded, especially if you visit when school is in session.

Downtown Seattle

👉 Best Area For Solo Travelers & A Central Location | ✨ Best Budget Hotel: Green Tortoise Hostel

Downtown Seattle can be a good place to stay on a budget, but you’ll have to be selective with your hotel – the cheapest and most expensive spots are all here. 

The cheapest place to stay by far is the Green Tortoise Hostel. It’s the perfect option for solo travelers or people who want to be close to the top attractions. The Mayflower Park Hotel’s rates can also be reasonable, particularly if you’re visiting in the off season.

Stay in Downtown Seattle to have ample public transit options to get you anywhere else in the city. You’ll be close to the ferry terminal, Pike Place Market, the waterfront, and the Seattle Center. You can visit and explore all of these places on a budget.

Restaurants downtown are pricey. However, many spots also have happy hours that can help you get around the more costly meals.

Capitol Hill

👉 Best Area For Couples and Groups | ✨ Best Budget Hotel: The Art Inn

Capitol Hill is one of Seattle’s coolest neighborhoods. The Art Inn is the most affordable hotel in the area. It’s perfect if you’re okay with the basics. There aren’t many other affordable hotel options, but you can usually find some good budget-friendly rentals. 

No, Capitol Hill is not the cheapest place in Seattle. However, it has a high volume of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and grocery stores. This makes it a good option for travelers who plan on going to happy hours, eating bar food, cooking, or cutting out other expenses. 

You can skip the rental car if you stay in Capitol Hill. It’s super walkable, and the light rail has a stop here. Plus, there are multiple buses, and the streetcar services the area.

The convenient location, vibrant nightlife, and fun atmosphere make this neighborhood a great choice for couples or friends who want to spend time in a lively area.

9 Cheap & Free Things to Do in Seattle

Green Lake Park

This north Seattle park is the perfect spot for sports, water recreation, and picnics.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 684-4075 | Website | Hours: 4 am – 11:30 pm daily

Green Lake Park is one of the best parks to visit on a budget because it has something for just about every kind of traveler. Sporty visitors will love the tennis courts, basketball courts, and soccer fields. There’s also plenty of room for ultimate frisbee on the wide open fields. 

You can walk, bike, or jog along the loop surrounding the lake. Or you can rent a kayak or pedal boat by the hour from Greenlake Boathouse to get directly on the lake. For a chill time, find a spot to picnic beneath a shady tree – there are plenty. 

The park is also home to the Seattle Public Theater, which has tickets as low as $10 for all shows. Families will enjoy Green Lake Park’s swimming beaches, wading pools, and two playgrounds for kids.

Pike Place Market

Explore every nook and cranny of Seattle’s famous market.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 682-7453 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 6 pm Mon-Sat, 8 am – 5 pm Sun | Entrance: free

Even budget travelers can enjoy the famous Pike Place Market! Wander through the open-air market and check out beautiful flower arrangements, purchase fresh local produce, and grab free samples of cinnamon-orange tea from MarketSpice.

Take photos at the gross (but popular) gum wall, and rest for a bit at the Pike Place Overlook Walk. From here, you’ll have gorgeous views of the Sound and the Olympics. 

Foodies will enjoy their time here, as there are many affordable grab-and-go food options at the market. Some of my favorites are Lands of Origin, Mee Sum Pastry, Piroshky Piroshky, and The Crumpet Shop.Don’t skip Pike Place Market on your visit – there’s a reason it’s Seattle’s top attraction!

Frye Art Museum

Immerse yourself in Seattle’s art scene.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 622-9250 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Wed & Fri-Sun, 11 am – 8 pm Thursday, Closed Monday & Tuesday | Entrance: free

I adore Frye Art Museum! This free art museum in First Hill is one of my favorite spots to visit when I’m interested in an art-focused date with my husband, but don’t want to spend a thing. 

Come here to look at Frye’s permanent art collection, which features dozens of late 19th-century and 20th-century pieces, including a few by Bouguereau. In addition to the permanent collection, the Frye often also has contemporary artists with mediums ranging from video to ceramics and everything in between.

Check the museum’s event calendar for various events like concerts, art history lectures, and meditations. 

👉 Short on Time? Just follow my perfect 1 day in Seattle itinerary!

T-Mobile Park

Watch Seattle’s favorite baseball team.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 346-4000 | Website | Entrance: $10+

You don’t have to drop loads of cash to get into T-Mobile Park to watch a baseball game. Seats run as low as $10 during select value games. Even if your seats aren’t the greatest, you can go down to the Pen and watch the game from directly next to center field. 

You can even save money on food in the park! The Mariners Value Menu has hot dogs, beers, nachos, peanuts, and more for around $3-$6. Or you can grab a Seattle dog from a vendor outside the park. These usually cost around $5 and are a Seattle classic.

Bainbridge Island

Take a day trip to an island with a cozy, art-loving community.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (888) 808-7977 | Website | Ferry Tickets: $9.85 ($1.00 bike surcharge), adults, Free, youth (ages 18 & under)

Taking a day trip is a great way to get a breather from the big city, and Bainbridge Island is the best day trip from Seattle for budget travelers. You don’t need a car to explore it, and you’ll get a chance to ride the ferry over there. 

Walk or bike onto the ferry. When you arrive, it’s just a short walk to Winslow, which harbors the bulk of the Bainbridge Island attractions.

Check out the cute boutiques with local gifts, learn about island history, and admire contemporary art at the museums – both are free. Make sure you also grab some delicious pastries from Blackbird Bakery.

The Center for Wooden Boats

Get on the water at South Lake Union.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 382-2628 | Website | Hours: typically between 10 am – 6 pm Saturday-Sunday, 11 am – 7 pm Monday-Friday (hours change seasonally) | Entrance: free

Opportunities to get on the water are plentiful in Seattle. The Center for Wooden Boats in the South Lake Union neighborhood is one of the best places to do this. 

This free-to-enter museum aims to educate visitors on the Pacific Northwest’s maritime history. Walk along the dock and admire antique boats or choose a hands-on learning experience. You can rent one of the Center’s Peapod rowboats for free.

The peapods can hold up to five people, making this a good activity for families or groups. CWB also offers rentals for canoes, kayaks, and small or large sailboats. Prices start at $35.

Ballard Locks

View Lake Union’s connection to the sea.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 780-2500 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 9 pm daily | Entrance: free

Walking around the Ballard Locks is a prototypical Seattle experience, especially if you’re up in Ballard. The locks are where saltwater Puget Sound meets freshwater Lake Washington. You can watch the intriguing process of the boats passing through the ship canal from one body of water to the next.

You’ll also find a fish ladder for salmon spawning at the Locks. There’s a viewing gallery where you can see the salmon run depending on the season (early fall is the best time for this experience).

Don’t miss the nearby Charles S. English Jr Botanical Garden, either. It’s small, but well-maintained, and a good place to picnic while watching all the activity at Locks.

Coffee Tasting at KEXP

Enjoy a free coffee tasting on the first Friday of the month.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 780-2500 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 6 pm Mon-Fri, 8 am – 6 pm Sat & Sun; Free coffee tasting at 10 am First Fridays  

Coffee enthusiasts will love this one. Visit Cafe Vita at KEXP on the first Friday of the month for a free coffee tasting experience! You’ll sample a mix of single-origin and organic coffee blends and can ask the experts any coffee-related questions you have. 

The experience lasts about an hour and begins with smelling the freshly ground beans. By the end, you’ll have a good idea of your preferred coffee and enough caffeine in you to get through the rest of the day. I highly recommend prioritizing this. It’ll help you appreciate the brews you have at all the other Seattle coffee shops!

Kerry Park

Find one of the best views of Seattle.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 684-4075 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily

Puget Sound, the Olympics, Mount Rainier… Seattle has some pretty epic surroundings that make for epic views. Kerry Park is one of the best spots to appreciate the view without paying a thing.

The park is nestled in Queen Anne, and it’s tiny but popular with people seeking the perfect shot. Come at sunset for the best pictures. Just know that there’s not much else to do here. I recommend walking a few blocks northeast to explore more of Upper Queen Anne’s commercial district after taking in the view.

Want more viewpoint options? A few of my other favorite spots to enjoy a good view for free are the Seattle waterfront, the Jose Rizal Bridge, and West Seattle’s Jack Block Park.

👉 Read Next: 32 Best Places to Visit in Washington State (By a Local)

Cheap Eats in Seattle

Quick-serve restaurants, bars and pubs, delis, and food trucks are some of the best spots to find cheap food in the city. Here are a few spots I recommend:

Xi’an Noodles

Chinese

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($$)

This U-District favorite serves tasty and affordable Chinese hand-pulled noodles among other dishes. Generous portions make the food here a filling lunch or dinner. The spicy cumin lamb noodles are beyond good.

Off the Rez Cafe

Native American Fry Bread

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($)

Sweet and savory fry bread and Indian tacos are what you can expect from this Native American eatery in the Burke Museum. Grab a generously loaded fry bread taco for $7.50 and sweet fry bread for $5-$6.

Tacos Chukis

Mexican

📍 Google Maps (multiple other locations) | Website | Price Range: ($)

Taco Chukis serves some of the best quick and inexpensive Mexican food in the city. Enjoy a variety of delicious tacos, burritos, tortas, and more from this Seattle staple. The service is always speedy, the food is always tasty, and the prices are perfect. 

Twilight Exit

American, Bar Food

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($$)

Want delicious bar food and cheap, strong drinks in a laid-back atmosphere? Look no further than Twilight Exit. I love that this local dive bar makes nearly all of its food in-house.

I highly recommend ordering the nachos and coming on a Sunday evening for karaoke to get the full Twilight Exit experience. It was one of my favorite things to do when I lived in the area!

Marination Ma Kai

Hawaiian-Korean Fusion

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($$)

Hawaiian fare meets Korean cuisine at this West Seattle restaurant. Grab some kimchi fried rice and aloha sliders, and enjoy your food with one of the best views in Seattle.

Donburi Station

Japanese

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($$)

Donburi Station is the place to go if you crave teriyaki, katsu, and any other kind of donburi. Its large portions mean you can easily get 2 meals out of one order. Add a side of gyoza, pork curry, or edamame to top off this delicious and comforting meal.  

Dick’s Burgers

Burgers

📍 Google Maps (multiple other locations) | Website | Price Range: ($)

This is one of the cheapest options for Seattle eats, and it’s a classic (Sir Mix-a-Lot even rapped about it). Come to Dick’s for unfussy late-night eats in the form of fries, burgers, and milkshakes. There’s almost always a line, but it’s never a long wait, and you can get a satisfying meal for under $10.

Saigon Vietnam Deli

Vietnamese

📍 Google Maps | Website | Price Range: ($)

Saigon Vietnam Deli is one of Seattle’s best Vietnamese delis. It has a wide variety of Vietnamese food, desserts, and bubble tea. The Bahn Mi is the most popular item, and it’s easy to see why – they’re just $6, fresh and flavorful, and super filling.

7 Tips to Do Seattle on a Budget

Tip #1 – Use Seattle’s Public Transit

Seattle’s public transportation is solid. Taking advantage of it is one of the best cost-saving tips I have. You can get around Seattle easily with the light rail, buses, the monorail, streetcars, and water taxis. This means you can completely cut out the cost of a rental car. 

During the summer, you can use Trailhead Direct, a bus service that will take you from downtown directly to the trailheads of some of the best hikes near Seattle. So no, you don’t have to miss out on hiking adventures just because you don’t have a car.

Buy an ORCA card to eliminate the need to pay with cash. The card costs $3, and you can load it up at any light rail station or on the myORCA app. An ORCA card will work for buses, water taxis, the light rail, monorail, streetcars, and ferries!

Tip #2 – Skip the Sit-Down Restaurants

Seattle’s great restaurants make it a foodie’s dream, but the prices are a budgeter’s nightmare. Between food, drinks, and tips, you could easily spend $40 or more per person at an average restaurant.

The best way to get around these costs (and still get a good taste of the best Seattle food) is to be selective about where you eat. Get food from bars, coffee shops, food trucks, delis, food courts, and hole-in-the-wall takeaway joints. These spots generally have lower prices but comparably tasty food.

Tip #3 – Take Advantage of Happy Hours

Are there sit-down restaurants you want to enjoy with expenses you can’t justify? Don’t write them off completely. First, check to see if they have a happy hour you can plan your meal around.

Sure, your menu options will be limited, but you’ll still get to sample some good food at much more reasonable prices. Alibi Room and Zig Zag Cafe have two of my favorite happy hours in the downtown area. Check out the brunch happy hour at Salty’s on Alki Beach for a local favorite.

Tip #4 –  Consider an Off-Season or Shoulder-Season Visit

Summer is the most popular season to visit Seattle, but it’s also the most expensive. I often recommend coming during the shoulder seasons. May, June, September, and October are beautiful and not as crowded as July and August.

Consider visiting from November through April, too. Yes, these are the coldest and rainiest months, but they’re still good times to experience some of the city’s best attractions. Plus, airfare and lodging costs are often much lower during these months.

Tip #5 – Purchase A Seattle CityPASS

Purchasing a Seattle CityPASS will help mitigate ticket prices for the most popular attractions, making it perfect for those who want to add the city’s top sights to their Seattle itinerary.  

A CityPASS gives you discounted tickets to the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, and three other attractions of your choice. Choose between the Museum of Pop Culture, Woodland Park Zoo, Pacific Science Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Argosy Harbor Cruises.

This is especially great if you want to enjoy most of the Seattle Center attractions. You’ll save nearly 50% by taking advantage of this deal and purchasing a CityPASS ahead of time in lieu of tickets at the door.

Tip #6 – Walk or Bike Onto the Ferries

Riding the ferries while in Seattle is a must, but they can be expensive. However, you can save $20 or more by walking or biking onto the ferries instead of driving.

I recommend walking or biking on the ferry to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton. Both of these cities have walkable commercial districts that are close to the ferry terminals, so you won’t have to worry about getting around when you arrive at your destination. 

Tip #7 – Spend Time at City Parks

The parks in Seattle are phenomenal and provide endless options for recreation. Hike through Discovery Park. Take pictures of the skyline at Kerry Park, and watch for seals and herons at Lincoln Park.

Admire contemporary art and waterfront views at Olympic Sculpture Park. Take young kids to the wading pool at Volunteer Park, or let them run wild at the playground at Green Lake. 

Seattle parks are well-maintained and gorgeous in every season. They’re one of the best places to enjoy Seattle cheaply, especially if you love the outdoors.

Tip #8 – Plan Your Trip Around Free Museum Days and Artwalks

Interested in Seattle’s culture, history, and art scene? Take advantage of the free museum days on the first Thursday of the month. You’ll be able to visit the following completely free of charge:  

• 🖼️ The Seattle Art Museum
• 🦖 The Burke Museum
• 📜 The Museum of History and Industry
• 🇩🇰 The National Nordic Museum
• 📷 The Henry Art Gallery
• ✈️ The Museum of Flight
• 🎨 Seattle Asian Art Museum

Unable to make it on that specific day? Two museums in Seattle are always free: The Frye Art Museum and the Klondike Gold Rush Museum.

Art lovers can attend monthly neighborhood Art Walks, which feature work from local artists. The most popular and longest-running Art Walk is the one in Pioneer Square, also on First Thursdays. I’m also a fan of the West Seattle Art Walk, which occurs on the second Thursday of the month.

FAQs

Is Seattle a cheap place to visit?

Seattle is not the cheapest place to visit. However, you can make your stay more budget-friendly by following tips on how to travel to Seattle on a budget.

These include choosing basic accommodations, using public transport, limiting meals at sit-down restaurants, and selecting low-cost and free activities in Seattle. 

Is Seattle cheap to live in?

Seattle is not a cheap place to live. It is growing rapidly and expenses are on par with other major cities on the West Coast. The cheaper parts of Seattle are on the northern and southern ends of the metro area.

Is Seattle or Portland cheaper?

Portland is overall cheaper than Seattle, especially in terms of housing costs.

Can you visit Seattle without a car? 

You can easily visit Seattle without a car. It has a walk score of 74 (and downtown’s walk score is 98). Seattle is one of the most bike-friendly cities in America. In addition, the city has a lot of public transit options that make getting around Seattle easy for visitors and locals alike.

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Now you know how to visit Seattle on a budget! Still have questions? Leave a comment and I’ll help you out.Up next, check out my guide to practical Seattle tips you’ll want to know before you visit.