Living Cost Compare
Portland

Oregon

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Portland, OR is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $88,792 in Portland, OR and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 16% higher in Washington, DC. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Portland, OR
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,294
$1,763
+36% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,440
$1,885
+31% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,741
$1,949
+12% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$2,053
$2,249
+10% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$557,600
$724,600
+30% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$88,792
$106,287
+20% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,690
$71,060
+17% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.6 yr
34.9 yr
+3.7 yr in Portland, OR
Homeownership
52.8%
41.1%
+11.7 pp in Portland, OR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
53.5%
63.6%
+10.1 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
24.6 min
30.3 min
+5.7 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
732.3
936.3
+28% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
5,609.4
3,627.9
+35% 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
58.2°F
+3.7°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
42.9 in
39.7 in
+3.1 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.86/gal
+24% in Portland, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.80
$2.00
+29% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.3
25.4
+56% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.59
$22.01
+7% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Portland, OR
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Portland, OR
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Washington, DC
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Portland, OR
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Portland, OR
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / DC)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
10.75%
+0.8 pp in DC

Portland vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Washington?
Portland, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Washington?
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 Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Washington?
Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).