Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Portland?

Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Portland?

Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Louisville vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,600/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Louisville, KY versus $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 27% higher in Portland, OR. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Louisville, KY

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$786

$1,294

+65% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$877

$1,440

+64% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,096

$1,741

+59% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$2,053

+58% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$221,500

$557,600

+152% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$64,731

$88,792

+37% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,370

$60,690

+25% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.7 yr

38.6 yr

+0.9 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

60.6%

52.8%

+7.8 pp in Louisville, KY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

53.5%

+20.1 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

22.7 min

24.6 min

+1.9 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

761.5

731.7

+4% in Louisville, KY

Property Crime

3,535.4

5,605.5

+59% 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

58.2°F

54.5°F

+3.7°F in Louisville, KY

Annual Precipitation

44.9 in

42.9 in

+2.1 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.35/gal

$5.57/gal

+28% in Portland, OR

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

$2.80

+60% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

about equal

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.12

$17.98

+6% in Louisville, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Portland, OR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

9.90%

+6.4 pp in OR

Louisville vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Portland?: Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Portland?: Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).