Is Portland expensive to live in?

Portland is on the pricier side of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,440 per month ranks #14 of 50 and is 18% higher than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in Portland?

Average rent in Portland, OR runs a studio around $1,294, a one-bedroom around $1,440, a two-bedroom around $1,741, a three-bedroom around $2,053 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Portland?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,440 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year. The median household income here is $88,792.

How much does it cost to live in Portland per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Portland is about $1,600 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Aerial view of city buildings during daytime — Portland, OR

Cost of Living in Portland, OR

Population 652,503 · Oregon

~$1,600/mo est.1BR $1,440Home $557,600

Photo: Trang Nguyen / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Portland, OR is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,440 a month — 18% higher than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,294 and two-bedrooms $1,741.

Median household income here is $88,792, 17% higher than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,600 before food and transport. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,440

Studio

$1,294

1 Bedroom

$1,440

2 Bedroom

$1,741

3 Bedroom

$2,053

Buying a Home$557,600

Median Home Value

$557,600

Income$88,792

Median Household Income

$88,792

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,690

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.37

Bread (lb)

$2.10

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities14.9¢/kWh

Electricity

14.9¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$17.98/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$5.57/gal

Regular Gasoline (West Coast (PADD 5))

$5.57/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$2.80

Base Fare (TriMet)

$2.80

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (OR)No sales tax

State Sales Tax

None

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 9.90%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime731.7 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

731.7

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

5,605.5

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Portland Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 38.6 yrs

Median Age

38.6 yrs

Homeownership

52.8%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.5%

Avg Commute

24.6 min

Climate54.5°F

Avg Annual Temperature

54.5°F

Annual Precipitation

42.9 in

Portland cost of living — FAQ

Is Portland expensive to live in?: Portland is on the pricier side of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,440 per month ranks #14 of 50 and is 18% higher than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Portland?: Average rent in Portland, OR runs a studio around $1,294, a one-bedroom around $1,440, a two-bedroom around $1,741, a three-bedroom around $2,053 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Portland?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,440 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year. The median household income here is $88,792.
How much does it cost to live in Portland per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Portland is about $1,600 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Portland with nearby cities

Portland vs Seattle Portland vs Sacramento Portland vs San Francisco Portland vs Fresno Portland vs Bakersfield Portland vs Las Vegas

Nearby cities

Seattle, WA 146 mi Sacramento, CA 482 mi San Francisco, CA 534 mi Fresno, CA 624 mi Bakersfield, CA 726 mi Las Vegas, NV 755 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.