Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Portland?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Newark or Portland?

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

Newark vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 45% higher in Portland, OR. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Newark, NJ

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,111

$1,294

+16% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$978

$1,440

+47% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,386

$1,741

+26% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,695

$2,053

+21% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$337,800

$557,600

+65% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$48,416

$88,792

+83% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$60,690

+1% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

38.6 yr

+3.8 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

24.1%

52.8%

+28.7 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.4%

53.5%

+36.1 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

33.2 min

24.6 min

+8.6 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

582.5

732.3

+26% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

1,961.8

5,609.4

+186% 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

54.9°F

54.5°F

+0.4°F in Newark, NJ

Annual Precipitation

46.3 in

42.9 in

+3.4 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Portland, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.3

16.3

+30% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.93

$20.59

+29% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / OR)

6.625%

None

+6.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

9.90%

+0.8 pp in NJ

Newark vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Portland?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Portland?: Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).