Living Cost Compare
Portland

Oregon

$1,600/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,750/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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Portland, OR is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $88,792 in Portland, OR and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 37% higher in San Francisco, 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 Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,294
$1,560
+21% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,440
$2,425
+68% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,741
$2,982
+71% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,053
$3,269
+59% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$557,600
$1,380,500
+148% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$88,792
$141,446
+59% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,690
$74,260
+22% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.6 yr
39.7 yr
+1.1 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
52.8%
38.5%
+14.3 pp in Portland, OR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
53.5%
60.1%
+6.6 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
24.6 min
31.2 min
+6.6 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
731.7
596.5
+18% in Portland, OR
Property Crime
5,605.5
3,962.2
+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
57.3°F
+2.8°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
42.9 in
23.6 in
+19.2 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$6.05/gal
+9% in San Francisco, CA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

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

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

Utilities

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

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or San Francisco?
Portland, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,600 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or San Francisco?
Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); San Francisco 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).