Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Rutland?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $34,000 in Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Portland or Rutland?

Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Portland vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Portland, OR versus $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $88,792 in Portland, OR and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 38% higher in Portland, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Portland, OR

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$1,294

$893

+31% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,440

$856

+41% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,741

$1,097

+37% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$2,053

$1,207

+41% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$557,600

$176,400

+68% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$88,792

$55,000

+38% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,690

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.6 yr

48.5 yr

+9.9 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

52.8%

52.7%

+0.1 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.5%

32.2%

+21.3 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

24.6 min

14.7 min

+9.9 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

732.3

487.8

+33% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

5,609.4

3,973.3

+29% 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

44.6°F

+9.9°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

42.9 in

40.5 in

+2.4 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Portland, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.80

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

24.4

+50% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.60

$26.07

+21% in Rutland, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / VT)

None

+6.0 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

8.75%

+1.2 pp in OR

Portland vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Rutland?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Rutland?: Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).