Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Portland?

Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Portland?

Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Huntsville vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 20% higher in Portland, OR. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$815

$1,294

+59% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$900

$1,440

+60% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,741

+61% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,251

$2,053

+64% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$263,100

$557,600

+112% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$70,778

$88,792

+25% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,740

$60,690

+17% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

38.6 yr

+2.2 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

58.1%

52.8%

+5.3 pp in Huntsville, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.2%

53.5%

+7.3 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

19.3 min

24.6 min

+5.3 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

483.2

732.3

+52% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

2,395.7

5,609.4

+134% 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

62.1°F

54.5°F

+7.6°F in Huntsville, AL

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

42.9 in

+11.5 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Portland, OR

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

16.3

+0% in Huntsville, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.06

$21.60

+10% in Huntsville, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Huntsville, AL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / OR)

None

+4.0 pp in AL

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

9.90%

+4.9 pp in OR

Huntsville vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Portland?: Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Portland?: Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).