True Cost of Renting in Redmond
Redmond is Microsoft's hometown — the campus employs 50,000+ employees in Redmond alone, making it the single largest employment anchor in the Pacific Northwest. The city has transformed from a suburban backwater into a genuine urban center over the past decade, with a growing Downtown, the Overlake tech cluster, and new light rail connections to Seattle. Living in Redmond is the choice of Microsoft employees who want to minimize their commute.
Neighborhoods & Average Rents
Downtown Redmond
- Studio:
- $1,800/mo
- 1 Bed:
- $2,300/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $3,200/mo
Compact urban core along Cleveland Street and Redmond Town Center; newer mid-rise apartments with walkable retail. East Link Light Rail downtown station. PSE electric. Most buildings include one parking space — Microsoft campus is 2 miles east.
Overlake
- Studio:
- $2,000/mo
- 1 Bed:
- $2,700/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $3,800/mo
Tech-hub district adjacent to Microsoft main campus; luxury apartment towers with full amenity packages ($150–200/mo). Light Rail Overlake Village station. Near Microsoft's main buildings, Oculus VR, and dozens of tech companies.
Education Hill
- 1 Bed:
- $2,100/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $2,900/mo
Residential hillside neighborhood northeast of Downtown Redmond; newer apartment complexes with family-oriented amenities. Car-recommended but close to SR-520. Excellent Redmond school district ratings. PSE electric.
Utility Providers
- Electric
- PSE (Puget Sound Energy)
- Water
- City of Redmond Water Utility
- Internet
- Comcast Xfinity, Ziply Fiber, CenturyLink
Commute & Transportation
Microsoft's campus is Redmond's dominant commute anchor. SR-520 from Downtown Seattle to Redmond takes 20–30 minutes off-peak and up to 60–75 minutes in rush hour (tolled $3–5 each way). The East Link Light Rail Overlake Technology Center and Redmond Technology stations dramatically improved non-driving commutes to Seattle. I-405 runs south to Bellevue (10 minutes) and Renton. King County Metro buses serve the Microsoft campus directly from Seattle. Many Microsoft employees travel internationally and use SeaTac Airport frequently — 40–50 minutes south via I-405 or SR-522.
Rental Market Overview
Redmond's rental market is almost entirely driven by Microsoft employment. When Microsoft hires, Redmond rents rise; when it announces layoffs, vacancy increases. PSE electric rates are higher than Seattle City Light but significantly below California utilities. No state income tax. Light rail has increased Redmond's attractiveness for Seattle-based renters willing to reverse-commute. Security deposits limited to 1 month's rent under Washington state law. Renters insurance averages $15–20/month.
Data last updated: 2026-04
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