Living Cost Compare
Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

vs
New York City

New York

$2,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $2,010 in New York City, NY. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 20% higher in New York City, NY. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,011
$1,633
+62% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,705
+58% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,411
$1,781
+26% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,674
$2,065
+23% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,400
$751,700
+73% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$63,836
$79,713
+25% in New York City, NY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,680
$61,430
+24% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.4 yr
38.0 yr
+2.6 yr in New York City, NY
Homeownership
47.6%
32.8%
+14.8 pp in Eugene, OR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.2%
41.0%
+3.2 pp in Eugene, OR
Avg Commute
18.6 min
40.6 min
+22.0 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.6
694
+117% in New York City, NY
Property Crime
3,348.9
2,415.4
+28% in Eugene, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.5°F
55.0°F
+2.5°F in New York City, NY
Annual Precipitation
46.1 in
49.9 in
+3.8 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.95/gal
+22% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00

Adult base one-way fare — vs MTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.3
29.9
+84% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.59
$22.74
+10% in New York City, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Eugene, OR
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Eugene, OR
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Eugene, OR
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in New York City, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / NY)
None
4%
+4.0 pp in NY
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
10.90%
+1.0 pp in NY

Eugene vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or New York City?
Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below New York City, NY's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in New York City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $68,000 in New York City.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or New York City?
Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).