If you are working downtown (South Lake Union) you have a ton of options. Sounds like you're OK with roommates - so I think your budget is realistic. Figure out what kind of neighborhood you'd like - but Seattle proper has a LOT of really structurally similar "one main arterial with loads of shops and restaurants and some apartments " surrounded by single family homes. If you want a proper downtown then you're looking at Belltown or lower queen Anne - if you want something sleepier then there's too many to list but the Roosevelt corridor has a good blend of stuff and is getting light rail in the coming year or two (as is the Northgate area).
Ballard has loads of everything but commutes can be strained. Central district, cap hill and so on. I district too but can be a weird mix of college town and sketchy.
Pro tip : join and scour the local neighborhood Facebook groups for early tips on apartments and rooms on a very granular basis and assume everything on Craigslist is a scam.
Ballard has loads of everything but commutes can be strained. Central district, cap hill and so on. I district too but can be a weird mix of college town and sketchy.
Pro tip : join and scour the local neighborhood Facebook groups for early tips on apartments and rooms on a very granular basis and assume everything on Craigslist is a scam.