Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Raleigh?

Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Portland or Raleigh?

Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Portland vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Portland

Oregon

$1,600/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,600 in Portland, OR versus $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $88,792 in Portland, OR and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 7% higher in Portland, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Portland, OR

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,294

$1,301

+1% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,440

$1,323

+8% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,741

$1,462

+16% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$2,053

$1,715

+16% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$557,600

$377,800

+32% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$88,792

$82,424

+7% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,690

$51,990

+14% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.6 yr

34.7 yr

+3.9 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

52.8%

51.2%

+1.6 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.5%

52.9%

+0.6 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

24.6 min

23.4 min

+1.2 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

731.7

491.5

+33% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

5,605.5

2,838

+49% 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

54.5°F

60.6°F

+6.1°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

42.9 in

46.0 in

+3.2 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

$4.30/gal

+23% in Portland, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.80

$1.25

+55% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

16.0

+7% in Raleigh, NC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.98

$17.50

+3% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Portland, OR

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / NC)

None

4.75%

+4.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

3.99%

+5.9 pp in OR

Portland vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Raleigh?: Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Raleigh?: Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).