Living Cost Compare
Portland

Oregon

$1,600/mo est.

vs
San Diego

California

$2,210/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 $2,210 in San Diego, CA. Overall, Portland, OR is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $88,792 in Portland, OR and $104,321 in San Diego, CA — about 15% higher in San Diego, CA. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Portland, OR
San Diego, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,294
$1,737
+34% in San Diego, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,440
$1,883
+31% in San Diego, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,741
$2,348
+35% in San Diego, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,053
$2,818
+37% in San Diego, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$557,600
$848,500
+52% in San Diego, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$88,792
$104,321
+17% in San Diego, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,690
$58,690
+3% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.6 yr
36.0 yr
+2.6 yr in Portland, OR
Homeownership
52.8%
47.6%
+5.2 pp in Portland, OR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
53.5%
49.9%
+3.6 pp in Portland, OR
Avg Commute
24.6 min
23.9 min
+0.7 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
731.7
414.1
+43% in Portland, OR
Property Crime
5,605.5
1,693.1
+70% 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
63.6°F
+9.1°F in San Diego, CA
Annual Precipitation
42.9 in
10.3 in
+32.5 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$5.91/gal
+6% in San Diego, CA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.80
$2.50
+11% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
33.4
+124% in San Diego, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.98
$20.72
+15% in San Diego, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / CA)
None
7.25%
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
13.30%
+3.4 pp in CA

Portland vs San Diego — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or San Diego?
Portland, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,600 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in San Diego?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $75,000 in San Diego.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or San Diego?
Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); San Diego under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).