[loeg]

Olympia's a smaller city, but still a city. Exurbs like Snoqualmie or North Bend are likely to be even more inexpensive (edit: although, less likely to have apartments — your cheap option is the less desirable trailer park). Or Bremerton / Peninsula.

To the north there's Everett and that area.

Lots of options within 1hr of Seattle, if you don't have to commute it regularly.