Cost of Living in Eugene, OR
Eugene-Springfield, OR — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Eugene, OR to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Eugene, OR?
With a price level of 101.6 (U.S. average = 100), Eugene, OR is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs are 2% below average; everyday goods run 5% above average; utilities run 3% 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 goods.
Prices in Eugene, OR vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.6 | +1.6% |
| Housing | 98.3 | −1.7% |
| Goods | 105.3 | +5.3% |
| Utilities | 102.5 | +2.5% |
| Other services | 100.3 | +0.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Eugene, OR
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,223 | $48,920/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,286 | $51,440/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,688 | $67,520/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,348 | $93,920/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,832 | $113,280/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Eugene, 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 Eugene, OR | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $40,600 | $32,079 |
| $60,000 | $60,900 | $46,614 |
| $80,000 | $81,300 | $59,740 |
| $100,000 | $101,600 | $72,245 |
| $150,000 | $152,400 | $102,644 |
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 Eugene, OR's median wage of $49,680 takes home about $3,215 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,286, which is 40% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $1,929 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Eugene, OR
- Federal income tax$3,782
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,080
- Medicare (1.45%)$720
- Oregon income tax$3,517
- Take-home pay$38,581
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
Highest-paying jobs in Eugene, OR
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $113,720 | $79,711 | $78,481 |
| General and Operations Manager | $94,170 | $67,668 | $66,624 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $41,600 | $32,795 | $32,289 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $40,690 | $32,144 | $31,647 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $37,430 | $29,810 | $29,349 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,410 | $28,363 | $27,925 |
| Cashier | $34,110 | $27,432 | $27,009 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $33,990 | $27,346 | $26,924 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
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.
Eugene, OR vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene, OR | 101.6 | $1,286 | $49,680 | 157,710 |
| Brownsville, TX | 86.0 | $866 | $36,490 | 157,450 |
| Gulfport, MS | 90.0 | $925 | $43,470 | 158,310 |
| Youngstown, OH | 87.4 | $771 | $43,800 | 160,160 |
| Waterbury, CT | 99.8 | $1,445 | $51,440 | 160,710 |
| Hickory, NC | 88.5 | $908 | $45,220 | 154,090 |
| Roanoke, VA | 93.6 | $1,020 | $47,140 | 153,980 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Eugene, OR expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Eugene-Springfield, OR metro area are 101.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 98.3%. It is the #61 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Eugene, OR?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $60,941 in Eugene, OR (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,680.
Can you afford Eugene, OR on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,680 median wage takes home about $3,215 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,286 would take 40% of that.
How much is rent in Eugene, OR?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Eugene, OR are $1,223 for a studio, $1,286 for one bedroom, $1,688 for two bedrooms and $2,348 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Eugene, OR
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $94,170
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $113,720
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $40,690
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,990
Personal Care and Service Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $35,410
- Cashier — $34,110
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,430