Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Portland?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $53,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Portland?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Eugene vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 16% higher in Portland, ME. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Portland, ME

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$1,038

+3% in Portland, ME

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,331

+23% in Portland, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,664

+18% in Portland, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,919

+15% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$452,600

+4% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$76,174

+19% in Portland, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$56,960

+15% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

37.5 yr

+2.1 yr in Portland, ME

Homeownership

47.6%

46.7%

+0.9 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

59.2%

+15.0 pp in Portland, ME

Avg Commute

18.6 min

19.9 min

+1.3 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

272.7

+15% in Eugene, OR

Property Crime

3,348.9

2,513.3

+25% 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

46.5°F

+6.0°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

47.3 in

+1.1 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.86/gal

+24% in Eugene, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

28.6

+76% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$21.00

+2% in Portland, ME

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 Portland, ME

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 / ME)

None

5.5%

+5.5 pp in ME

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

7.15%

+2.8 pp in OR

Eugene vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Portland?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Portland?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).