Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Salem?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Salem?

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

Rutland vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Rutland, VT versus $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,000 in Rutland, VT and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 24% higher in Salem, OR. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Rutland, VT

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,075

+20% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$856

$989

+16% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,097

$1,337

+22% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,207

$1,778

+47% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$176,400

$382,400

+117% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$55,000

$71,900

+31% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$55,310

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

48.5 yr

35.7 yr

+12.8 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

52.7%

55.7%

+3.0 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.2%

31.4%

+0.8 pp in Rutland, VT

Avg Commute

14.7 min

22.4 min

+7.7 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

487.8

540.6

+11% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

3,973.3

2,878.6

+28% in Rutland, VT

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

44.6°F

53.0°F

+8.4°F in Salem, OR

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

39.7 in

+0.8 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Salem, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.4

16.3

+33% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$21.60

+17% in Rutland, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

9.90%

+1.2 pp in OR

Rutland vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Salem?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Salem?: Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).