Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Tacoma?

Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Tacoma.

Which has lower taxes, Portland or Tacoma?

Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Portland vs Tacoma Cost of Living 2026

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/mo est.

Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Tacoma, WA 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 $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 6% higher in Portland, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Portland, OR

Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,294

$1,178

+9% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,440

$1,332

+8% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,741

$1,693

+3% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$2,053

$2,094

+2% in Tacoma, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$557,600

$454,600

+18% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$88,792

$83,857

+6% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,690

$72,610

+20% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.6 yr

37.3 yr

+1.3 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

52.8%

56.5%

+3.7 pp in Tacoma, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.5%

33.5%

+20.0 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

24.6 min

29.0 min

+4.4 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

732.3

1,064.4

+45% in Tacoma, WA

Property Crime

5,609.4

5,695.2

+2% in Tacoma, WA

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

52.1°F

+2.4°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

42.9 in

43.0 in

+0.2 in in Tacoma, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$5.12/gal

+1% in Tacoma, WA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.80

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

14.9

+8% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$20.41

+1% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / WA)

None

6.5%

+6.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

None

+9.9 pp in OR

Portland vs Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Tacoma?: Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Tacoma?: 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 Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Tacoma?: Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).