Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Paterson?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Paterson?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $47,000 in Paterson.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Paterson?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Eugene vs Paterson Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 16% higher in Eugene, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$786

+22% in Eugene, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,183

+10% in Paterson, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,468

+4% in Paterson, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,729

+3% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$335,400

+23% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$53,766

+16% in Eugene, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$61,430

+24% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

33.3 yr

+2.1 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

47.6%

26.2%

+21.4 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

12.5%

+31.7 pp in Eugene, OR

Avg Commute

18.6 min

23.1 min

+4.5 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

1,010.1

+216% in Paterson, NJ

Property Crime

3,348.9

2,391.4

+29% 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

52.2°F

+0.3°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

49.0 in

+2.9 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

24.9

+53% in Paterson, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.60

$17.68

+18% in Eugene, OR

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

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Paterson, NJ

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 / NJ)

None

6.625%

+6.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

10.75%

+0.8 pp in NJ

Eugene vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Paterson?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Paterson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Paterson?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).