Cost of Living in Corvallis, OR
Corvallis, OR — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Corvallis, OR to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Corvallis, OR?
With a price level of 104.0 (U.S. average = 100), Corvallis, OR is more expensive than average. In detail, housing costs run 14% above average; everyday goods run 5% above average; utilities run 9% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Corvallis, OR vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.0 | +4.0% |
| Housing | 114.4 | +14.4% |
| Goods | 105.3 | +5.3% |
| Utilities | 108.6 | +8.6% |
| Other services | 100.3 | +0.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Corvallis, OR
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,200 | $48,000/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,290 | $51,600/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,622 | $64,880/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,256 | $90,240/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,545 | $101,800/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Corvallis, OR
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Corvallis, OR | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $41,600 | $32,795 |
| $60,000 | $62,400 | $47,688 |
| $80,000 | $83,200 | $60,911 |
| $100,000 | $104,000 | $73,724 |
| $150,000 | $156,000 | $104,749 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Oregon 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Corvallis, OR's median wage of $57,680 takes home about $3,692 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,290, which is 35% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,402 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Corvallis, OR
- Federal income tax$4,742
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,576
- Medicare (1.45%)$836
- Oregon income tax$4,217
- Take-home pay$44,309
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
Pay and living costs in Oregon cities
Half of Oregon’s 1,967,130 workers earn less than $57,000 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $42,690–$83,070 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Portland, OR stretches a paycheck furthest, while Albany, OR is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | $60,690 | 105.4 | $1,677 | 43% | $2,195 | $44,074 |
| Salem, OR | $55,310 | 103.6 | $1,201 | 34% | $2,350 | $41,111 |
| Eugene, OR | $49,680 | 101.6 | $1,286 | 40% | $1,929 | $37,985 |
| Bend, OR | $54,570 | 103.6 | $1,297 | 37% | $2,210 | $40,617 |
| Medford, OR | $49,900 | 101.4 | $1,229 | 38% | $1,999 | $38,191 |
| Albany, OR | $49,700 | 102.1 | $1,236 | 38% | $1,980 | $37,801 |
| Corvallis, OR | $57,680 | 104.0 | $1,290 | 35% | $2,402 | $42,597 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $50,730 | 97.8 | $1,039 | 32% | $2,239 | $40,234 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Corvallis, OR vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corvallis, OR | 104.0 | $1,290 | $57,680 | 38,550 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 85.7 | $834 | $36,540 | 38,600 |
| Pocatello, ID | 88.9 | $894 | $45,160 | 38,290 |
| Victoria, TX | 89.8 | $1,153 | $43,050 | 38,120 |
| Watertown, NY | 87.7 | $1,071 | $47,600 | 39,330 |
| Grand Island, NE | 86.7 | $948 | $49,410 | 39,520 |
| Midland, MI | 91.9 | $925 | $49,340 | 37,300 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Corvallis, OR expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Corvallis, OR metro area are 104.0% of the U.S. average, with housing at 114.4%. It is the #36 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Corvallis, OR?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $62,410 in Corvallis, OR (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $57,680.
Can you afford Corvallis, OR on the median wage?
A single worker on the $57,680 median wage takes home about $3,692 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,290 would take 35% of that.
How much is rent in Corvallis, OR?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Corvallis, OR are $1,200 for a studio, $1,290 for one bedroom, $1,622 for two bedrooms and $2,256 for three bedrooms, including utilities.