Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Portland

Oregon

$1,600/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 6% higher in Portland, OR. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Portland, OR

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,294
+30% in Portland, OR
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,440
+10% in Portland, OR
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,741
+16% in Portland, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$2,053
+9% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$557,600
+33% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$88,792
+7% in Portland, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$60,690
+15% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
38.6 yr
+3.0 yr in Portland, OR
Homeownership
61.3%
52.8%
+8.5 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
53.5%
+11.6 pp in Portland, OR
Avg Commute
22.8 min
24.6 min
+1.8 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
721.1
731.7
+1% in Portland, OR
Property Crime
3,487.9
5,605.5
+61% in Portland, OR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
54.5°F
+5.5°F in Portland, OR
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
42.9 in
+26.3 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.54/gal
$5.57/gal
+23% in Portland, OR

Area: Colorado vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.80
+60% in Portland, OR

Adult base one-way fare — Mountain Metro vs TriMet (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
14.9
+11% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$17.98
+54% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / OR)
2.9%
None
+2.9 pp in CO
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
9.90%
+5.5 pp in OR

Colorado Springs vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Portland?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Portland?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).