Seattle real estate vs inflation: did it beat the dollar?
139% × 46%
Updated June 1, 2026 · Redfin · BLS / FRED (CPIAUCNS)
Since 2013, Seattle real estate is up 139% while U.S. consumer prices rose 46%. Seattle real estate far outpaced inflation — but the ride was brutal: its worst drop was 16%. Figures in U.S. dollars.
Base 100 since 2013
Why compare Seattle home prices (US$/m²) and U.S. inflation (CPI-U)
Seattle is an expensive Pacific Northwest market driven by a concentrated technology and aerospace economy, home to major employers whose hiring has repeatedly reshaped local demand. Prices climbed steeply through the 2010s as the tech sector expanded, with land and zoning constraints limiting how fast new housing could keep pace. The metro fell during the 2008 crash and then recovered strongly, and it became one of the fastest-appreciating large markets in the country during the second half of the decade. Like other coastal tech hubs, its prices are sensitive to the technology cycle.
Returns by window
| Window | Seattle home prices (US$/m²) | U.S. inflation (CPI-U) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | -1% | 4% |
| 5 years | 3% | 24% |
| 10 years | 48% | 39% |
| since 2013 | 139% | 46% |
The price of return: risk
| Asset | Annual volatility | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle real estate | 10% | -16% |
| Inflation (CPI) | 1% | -2% |
$10,000 in each, since 2013
| Asset | Value today |
|---|---|
| Seattle real estate | $23,949 |
| Inflation (CPI) | $14,553 |
Frequently asked questions
Did Seattle real estate beat inflation?
Over the period, Seattle real estate returned 139% while U.S. consumer prices rose 46%. The gap is what the asset earned beyond simply keeping pace with the dollar.
Does this account for the dollar losing value?
Yes. The inflation line is U.S. CPI, the measure of how much purchasing power the dollar lost over the same period. Returns above that line are gains in real terms.
Does a higher return mean a better investment?
Not on its own. A higher return came with higher risk here — the volatility and the largest drop on this page show how much the value swung along the way.
Keep exploring
Descriptive, educational content computed from official public data. Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.