Cost of Living in Portland, OR
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Portland, OR to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Portland, OR?
With a price level of 105.4 (U.S. average = 100), Portland, OR is more expensive than average. In detail, housing costs run 25% above average; everyday goods run 5% above average; utilities run 7% 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 Portland, OR vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.4 | +5.4% |
| Housing | 125.1 | +25.1% |
| Goods | 105.2 | +5.2% |
| Utilities | 107.0 | +7.0% |
| Other services | 100.1 | +0.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Portland, OR
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,570 | $62,800/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,677 | $67,080/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,922 | $76,880/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,619 | $104,760/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,109 | $124,360/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Portland, 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 Portland, OR | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $42,200 | $33,225 |
| $60,000 | $63,300 | $48,332 |
| $80,000 | $84,300 | $61,588 |
| $100,000 | $105,400 | $74,586 |
| $150,000 | $158,100 | $105,976 |
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 Portland, OR's median wage of $60,690 takes home about $3,872 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,677, which is 43% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $2,195 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Portland, OR
- Federal income tax$5,103
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,763
- Medicare (1.45%)$880
- Oregon income tax$4,481
- Take-home pay$46,464
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
Highest-paying jobs in Portland, OR
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $239,200+ | $205,638 | $195,064 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $183,720 | $120,951 | $114,731 |
| Marketing Manager | $172,610 | $114,457 | $108,571 |
| Financial Manager | $164,680 | $109,822 | $104,175 |
| Sales Manager | $162,640 | $108,630 | $103,044 |
| Software Developer | $156,000 | $104,749 | $99,362 |
| Lawyer | $155,330 | $104,357 | $98,991 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $151,260 | $101,978 | $96,734 |
| Construction Manager | $146,740 | $99,336 | $94,228 |
| Managers, All Other | $132,440 | $90,978 | $86,299 |
| Registered Nurse | $130,310 | $89,733 | $85,119 |
| Industrial Engineer | $129,890 | $89,487 | $84,886 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $127,360 | $88,002 | $83,477 |
| Dental Hygienist | $123,100 | $85,463 | $81,069 |
| General and Operations Manager | $121,050 | $84,226 | $79,895 |
| Financial and Investment Analyst | $117,280 | $81,904 | $77,692 |
| First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $112,480 | $78,947 | $74,888 |
| Project Management Specialist | $108,340 | $76,397 | $72,469 |
| Civil Engineer | $106,280 | $75,128 | $71,265 |
| Electrician | $105,090 | $74,395 | $70,569 |
*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.
Portland, OR vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | 105.4 | $1,677 | $60,690 | 1,208,410 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 100.2 | $1,478 | $46,670 | 1,136,960 |
| San Jose, CA | 110.4 | $2,957 | $84,050 | 1,134,970 |
| San Antonio, TX | 94.7 | $1,171 | $47,010 | 1,126,880 |
| Austin, TX | 98.1 | $1,562 | $56,950 | 1,293,690 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 94.7 | $1,058 | $49,650 | 1,114,490 |
| Columbus, OH | 95.5 | $1,179 | $51,340 | 1,105,580 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Portland, OR expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area are 105.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 125.1%. It is the #27 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Portland, OR?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $63,253 in Portland, OR (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $60,690.
Can you afford Portland, OR on the median wage?
A single worker on the $60,690 median wage takes home about $3,872 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,677 would take 43% of that.
How much is rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Portland, OR are $1,570 for a studio, $1,677 for one bedroom, $1,922 for two bedrooms and $2,619 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Portland, OR
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $183,720
- Marketing Manager — $172,610
- Financial Manager — $164,680
- Sales Manager — $162,640
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $151,260
- Construction Manager — $146,740
- Managers, All Other — $132,440
- General and Operations Manager — $121,050
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $117,280
- Project Management Specialist — $108,340
- Management Analyst — $103,470
- Loan Officer — $96,100
- Accountant and Auditor — $92,200
- Logistician — $87,950
- Compliance Officer — $86,600
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $85,350
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $156,000
- Computer Systems Analyst — $127,360
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $103,990
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $102,950
- Computer User Support Specialist — $65,880
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Industrial Engineer — $129,890
- Civil Engineer — $106,280
- Mechanical Engineer — $105,020
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $78,400
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $75,420
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $66,910
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $51,710
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $155,330
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $75,430
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $89,590
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $84,120
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $82,330
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $61,190
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $53,790
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $45,310
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $45,280
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
- Public Relations Specialist — $78,380
- Graphic Designer — $75,650
- Coach and Scout — $48,970
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Registered Nurse — $130,310
- Dental Hygienist — $123,100
- Pharmacy Technician — $58,590
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $59,890
- Medical Assistant — $56,240
- Nursing Assistant — $50,350
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $45,570
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $46,820
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $54,780
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,900
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,800
- Bartender — $45,590
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,200
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $43,410
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,580
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $46,450
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $41,170
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $39,000
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $59,570
- Recreation Worker — $42,580
- Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other — $41,600
- Childcare Worker — $39,590
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $77,900
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $74,900
- Insurance Sales Agent — $60,480
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $57,150
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $45,760
- Retail Salesperson — $37,340
- Cashier — $36,560
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $78,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $76,380
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $57,040
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $55,360
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other — $55,040
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $54,560
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $52,820
- Office Clerks, General — $50,640
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $112,480
- Electrician — $105,090
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $101,010
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $79,040
- Carpenter — $73,710
- Construction Laborer — $54,240
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $53,280
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $93,200
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $78,710
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $65,260
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $60,450
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $58,760
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,510
- Semiconductor Processing Technician — $62,810
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $62,050
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $58,460
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $48,140
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $47,180
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $45,440
- Baker — $43,440
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $64,830
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $63,800
- Bus Drivers, School — $62,190
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $52,120
- Light Truck Driver — $47,720
- Driver/Sales Worker — $46,330
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,100
- Stocker and Order Filler — $44,440