Miami - FL vs Seattle - WA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Seattle - WA is roughly 51% more expensive than Miami - FL in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Miami - FL (52 days vs 27), suggesting more buyer leverage there. Seattle - WA sees more listings with price cuts (34.2% vs 19.0%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Miami vs Seattle: what the numbers say

At today's 7.32% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $2,620 a month in principal and interest in Miami and $3,958 in Seattle, a gap of $1,337 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,654 in Miami and $2,250 in Seattle, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.0 times rent in Miami and 1.8 times rent in Seattle, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 15.0 years of rent in Miami and 26.7 in Seattle; the lower ratio in Miami means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -4.4% in Miami and -2.9% in Seattle; over just the last three months the change was +0.7% in Miami and -0.3% in Seattle.

Homes sell for 95.7% of list price in Miami and 99.3% in Seattle, after 52 and 27 days on the market, with price cuts on 19% and 34% of listings. The signs are mixed: Miami has longer time on the market and sales further below list, while Seattle has more price cuts.

The number of homes for sale is down 14% on a year ago in Miami and up 20% on a year ago in Seattle.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-22), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.