Is it cheaper to live in Overland Park or Portland?

Overland Park, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Overland Park versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Overland Park or Portland?

Overland Park is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Overland Park vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Overland Park, KS versus $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Overland Park, KS is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $103,838 in Overland Park, KS and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 14% higher in Overland Park, KS. Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Overland Park, KS

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,270

$1,294

+2% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,440

+18% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,589

$1,741

+10% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,828

$2,053

+12% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$384,400

$557,600

+45% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$103,838

$88,792

+14% in Overland Park, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,820

$60,690

+19% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.6 yr

about equal

Homeownership

61.5%

52.8%

+8.7 pp in Overland Park, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

62.9%

53.5%

+9.4 pp in Overland Park, KS

Avg Commute

19.9 min

24.6 min

+4.7 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

188.4

732.3

+289% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

1,790.5

5,609.4

+213% 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

55.2°F

54.5°F

+0.7°F in Overland Park, KS

Annual Precipitation

40.0 in

42.9 in

+2.8 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Portland, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.7

16.3

+4% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.12

$21.60

+14% in Overland Park, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Overland Park, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Overland Park, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KS / OR)

6.5%

None

+6.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

5.58%

9.90%

+4.3 pp in OR

Overland Park vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Overland Park or Portland?: Overland Park, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Overland Park than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Overland Park versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Overland Park or Portland?: Overland Park is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).