Cost of living in Portland, OR Livability score 55 · cost-of-living index 106.7 (US = 100)
How Portland compares Where Portland falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 107 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 107 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $552k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $552k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $325 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $325 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 0.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 0.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.92% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.92% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 340 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 340 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 15.8 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 15.8 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 82° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 82° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 34° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 34° Map of Portland Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 106.7 #177 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 104.8 #174 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $6.07 #177 of 200 Median household income $90,451 #29 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $47,443 #20 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 5.06% #95 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +5.2% #77 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $552,022 #174 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 6.1× #162 of 200 1-yr home appreciation -1.1% #160 of 200 Price per square foot $325 #177 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,700 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,797 #136 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 8,531 Median days on market 12 #65 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.8% #131 of 200 Combined sales tax 0.00% #1 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 9.90% Capital gains tax 9.90% #165 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.92% #110 of 200 Median property tax paid $4,482 #166 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 #65 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $15,000 #141 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $130 #107 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 8 Avg commute to work 26 min #137 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 15.8¢/kWh #64 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $142 #64 of 200 Gasoline $4.10/gal #170 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $900 #1 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,500 #41 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 #41 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $600 #172 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 38 #25 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 300 #2 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,600 #110 of 200 Avg summer high 82°F #10 of 200 Avg winter low 34°F #76 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 8b Frost window 02-25 → 12-01
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 340 #48 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 3,000 #186 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 55 #108 of 200 Parks 56 Hiking areas 32 Golf courses 17 Shooting ranges 8 Lakes 1
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 4 #147 of 200 Permit detail Difficult; zoning + review
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.