Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,688 in California versus $1,440 in Oregon. Overall, Oregon runs roughly 15% cheaper on rent than California, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $83,969 in California and $88,792 in Oregon — about 5% higher in Oregon. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
7.25%
None
+7.3 pp in California
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
9.90%
+3.4 pp in California
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,688
$1,440
+15% in California
Median Home Value
$771,700
$557,600
+28% in California
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$83,969
$88,792
+6% in Oregon
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
54.5°F
+9.9°F in California
California vs Oregon — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in California or Oregon?
- Oregon is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $1,440 runs about 15% below California's $1,688, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in California than in Oregon?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, based on median rent across tracked cities, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in California versus $58,000 in Oregon.
- Which has lower taxes, California or Oregon?
- California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 9/1 cities we track in California/Oregon — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.