Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA versus $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Portland, OR is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 9% higher in Portland, OR. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Portland, OR

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$1,294
+12% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,440
+15% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,741
+19% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$2,053
+18% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$557,600
+37% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$88,792
+10% in Portland, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$60,690
+9% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
38.6 yr
+1.7 yr in Portland, OR
Homeownership
36.3%
52.8%
+16.5 pp in Portland, OR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
53.5%
+15.7 pp in Portland, OR
Avg Commute
31.1 min
24.6 min
+6.5 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
731.7
+0% in Portland, OR
Property Crime
1,501.2
5,605.5
+273% 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
67.0°F
54.5°F
+12.5°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
42.9 in
+21.6 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$5.57/gal
+5% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
14.9
+55% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$17.98
+13% in Los Angeles, CA

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 (CA / OR)
7.25%
None
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
9.90%
+3.4 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Portland?
Portland, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,600 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Portland?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).