Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Portland?

Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Portland?

Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Philadelphia vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 32% higher in Portland, OR. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,126

$1,294

+15% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,189

$1,440

+21% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,394

$1,741

+25% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,406

$2,053

+46% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$232,400

$557,600

+140% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$60,698

$88,792

+46% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,310

$60,690

+12% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

38.6 yr

+3.5 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

52.3%

52.8%

+0.5 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.6%

53.5%

+18.9 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

32.0 min

24.6 min

+7.4 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

916.8

731.7

+20% in Philadelphia, PA

Property Crime

4,614.3

5,605.5

+21% 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

57.1°F

54.5°F

+2.6°F in Philadelphia, PA

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

42.9 in

+5.7 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.30/gal

$5.57/gal

+29% in Portland, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

$2.80

+12% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

20.9

14.9

+29% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.67

$17.98

+8% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.14

$4.37

+6% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.10

+9% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.23

+5% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.02

$2.14

+6% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.68

$0.74

+9% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

9.90%

+6.8 pp in OR

Philadelphia vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Portland?: Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Portland?: Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).