I’m scheduled to start working in Seattle around 3rd Ave. between Stewart and Battery in a bit over a month. It won’t be long before the six-hour daily commutes and probably around $500-$600/month in gasoline becomes less than entertaining. I’d like to find an efficiency apartment in Seattle for a price comparable to my fuel expenditures. Walking distance (2-3 miles) or a short bus ride to the office would be lovely.
In which areas should I look?
You could find something in West Seattle if you stick fairly near the Admiral Junction, which is perported to have buses that can get downtown in under 15 minutes. Or you could go as far south as Burien (approximately 8-10 miles from your work) and catch one of the express buses that leave from the Burien Park and Ride, which are pretty frequent during rush hours. That’s a 20-30 minute ride. With either option, a basic apartment would run you anywhere from $550 to $800 a month. You also might find something in that range in the Ballard-Blue Ridge neighborhoods, north of downtown.
With in 2 or 3 mile walking distance, you might find something in the $700-$800 on Capitol Hill but I stress the word might. The only other possibility I can think of is the lower north side of Queen Anne Hill near Seattle Pacific University. Sure, you will probably have college students for nieghbors but they’re Lutheran and from what I’ve seen, having lived in the area, they seem to be a pretty good bunch (as opposed to some of the rowdier students at the University of Washington, for example.) Plus, you have several bus choices downtown or to Queen Anne Hill’s business district or you could walk across the bridge and check out funky Freemont, home of Seattle Pub Trivia. Also, I know you like to be on the water and if you had a kayak or some other small boat, you could launch it from SPU’s boat ramp on the Ship Canal. Then you could paddle around Lake Union or head west to Salmon Bay.
I’ll probably come up with more later but that’s about it for now.
Here’s a Craig’s List ad for a studio in the SPU area. If I remember correctly, the Florentia Apts. aren’t anything fancy but it might be suitable for your purposes. Check out other ads on Craig’s List to get an idea the size of place you can get in Seattle for the money you want to pay.
Well, I can vouch for Ballard - upper Ballard is currently nicer than lower Ballard, what with all the drunks running rampant around Market Street as of late. Argh. We’re currently in a duplex that costs us $800/month, and our old apartment was ~$650, but is currently being demolished to make way for shiny new condos.
Here are some listings for under $800 - cheapest you’ll get in Ballard, but it’s a good neighbourhood. The downside? You’d be in my neighbourhood. MWAHAHAHA!
Ballard, Magnolia, Queen Anne, Fremont, Crown Hill, mmmmaybe Greenwood, in certain areas - all good neighbourhoods you can probably find something for $800 or less. You can find cheaper housing down south, but there’s nothing much down there. Blue Ridge is beautiful, but good luck finding anything cheap there. We’ve tried. 
You could try First Hill as well (I was actually helping a co-worker look for apartments in that price range today). Nice and convenient to downtown, generally cheaper than Capitol Hill.
I’m currently living in Ravenna and I think the neighbourhood is great. A bus downtown takes 30 minutes although it can be a bit crowded in the mornings. Lots of great shops and it’s pretty quiet and peaceful.
I’ve heard from some people that belltown is quite nice as well.
That’s a bit high. I’m just looking for a ‘base’ for the week. I can go to my house to spread out on the weekends. In Seattle, I don’t need a bedroom; just a room, a bathroom, and a kitchen sink and counter space for a microwave oven and toaster oven.
I was thinking near a university.
I do like to paddle, but I doubt I’ll have time during the week. I’ll leave the 'yak in Birch Bay.
I looked very briefly online a week or so ago. I found a 330 sq. ft. efficiency apartment for $475. ‘4th floor walk-up for excellent cardio!’ I think I’ll pass on that one. 
You could check in the Oriental District. It’s not the prettiest area, but it’s actually pretty safe (in spite of the bars on the windows), particularly if you go up the hill on the other East side of the 5 which is mostly just Chinese and Vietnamese shop owners houses and such. The bus station there, though, is I think the central bus station for all of Seattle, and since it’s within downtown it’s a free ride I believe.
Yeah, when I wrote about Ballard, I was thinking how those drunks can make for “interesting” bus rides when they’re headed to or from that area. However, they’re really the only drawback in Ballard. There’s a nice, popular downtown area that’s not too big and not too small and the neighborhoods around it tend to be quiet and laid-back. The Locks and Golden Gardens (a beach on the Sound) are great places to stretch your legs and get some sun. Or you could head across the Locks and over to Discovery Park for a good ramble down the wooded trails and to the beach there. And, of course, there’s Anastasaeon.
Since you’re thinking of near a college, Johnny, there’s also the University of Seattle about two miles east of downtown and just south of Broadway’s eclectic business district. My sister used to live near there and used to walk to her school near where you will be working. The area has a more “urban” feel than SPU and is probably more crime ridden but it’s very conveniently located. There is (or was last time I was in the area) an old, ramshackle apartment building just off-campus, that most certainly caters to college students living on the cheap. It’s called the Undre Arms. snerk I just love that!
Other areas to consider are, Phinney Ridge and Wallingford. Though it’ll take some looking, sometimes you can find good bargains in these areas.
Would you be interested in sharing an apartment or house with someone? I know it’s always a risk, personality-wise especially, but there’s some nice, cheap places to be had that way. (And some places where they think they can charge an arm and a leg, too.)
Good luck!
Narrowing down the range…
I’ve been commuting to Seattle for two weeks. I’m pulling off the freeway and parking at the Park & Ride in Northgate and riding the bus downtown. (And the bus pass is subsidised! It’s only costing me $9/month!) A coworker recommended a building downtown, just a couple of blocks from the office. The photos looked nice, but they had no openings. Another coworker mentioned a studio for $635/month. That’s a bit high. I’d still like to get something for $500/month. I’m planning to start a 4/40 schedule in May, so I’ll only be in Seattle four nights a week. Northgate is pretty handy. If anyone knows of a studio or efficiency apartment up there, I’d like to hear about it. I guess I could go as far north as Everett. A bit of a drive, but not nearly as far as I’m driving now!
I think this will be very hard to find in downtown Seattle. Last time I checked prices for apartments are in the $1.50 to $2.00 a square foot price range. So to find a studio (which would be average 400-500 SF) you will be in the $700-1000 foot range. Scary I know! I do think the older the apartment is the better your price range will be, but it won’t be easy to find something in that range in my opinion.
I don’t have the sense for further out like West Seattle or Ballard, but I live in Port Orchard and commute via the ferry and the prices are about $700 for a 1 bedroom, but that comes with a 1-1.5 hour commute.
Yeah, that’s why I thought I’d look in North Seattle or even a little farther north. When I started this thread I thought it would be cool to walk to work. Having experienced Seattle’s excellent public transportation system, I’m fine with living farther out and taking the bus.