Cost of living in Portland, OR-WA
2,542,282 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 5.4% above the US average, with housing at 125.1 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $505 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Portland, OR-WA
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, DOL 2022 childcare prices for Multnomah County, OR in current dollars, USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $97,436 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $8,120 |
| Taxes | $1,167 | $1,912 | $1,429 |
| Take-home pay | $3,833 | $7,255 | $6,690 |
| Housing | $1,633 | $1,878 | $1,878 |
| Childcare | $0 | $2,007 | $2,163 |
| Food | $464 | $1,040 | $1,350 |
| Transportation | $205 | $409 | $409 |
| Other goods & services | $1,027 | $1,027 | $1,027 |
| Left over | $505 | $893 | −$136 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($97,436). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Portland, OR-WA vs Oregon and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Oregon statewide (light).
Within Oregon, Portland, OR-WA ranks 1st of 8 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 103.4. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,527 | $61,080 | 18.8% |
| 1-bedroom | $1,633 | $65,320 | 20.1% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,878 | $75,120 | 23.1% |
| 3-bedroom | $2,550 | $102,000 | 31.4% |
| 4-bedroom | $3,069 | $122,760 | 37.8% |
FY2027 FMRs for Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $1,724 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Multnomah County, OR
| Age band | Center, weekly (2022) | Center, yearly today* | Home-based, weekly (2022) | Home-based, yearly today* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $407 | $25,876 | $250 | $15,900 |
| Toddler (2) | $379 | $24,087 | $221 | $14,071 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $297 | $18,870 | $208 | $13,192 |
| School-age (5–12) | $111 | $7,085 | $173 | $10,997 |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 county medians for full-time care in Multnomah County, OR (the metro’s principal county). *52 weeks × 1.2224, the BLS CPI change for day care and preschool from the 2022 average to 2026-08.
Taxes: what you keep in Portland
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Oregon income tax | $3,208 | $5,059 | $9,162 |
| Oregon payroll taxes | $350 | $525 | $840 |
| Local income tax (Portland Metro SHS + Multnomah PFA) | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,233 | $4,667 | $6,937 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 22.4% | 25.3% | 30.6% |
Portland residents (Multnomah County) owe the Metro Supportive Housing Services tax and the Multnomah County Preschool for All tax; both apply only above high income thresholds. State sales tax: 0% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt.
Calculate take-home pay for your household in Portland, OR-WA
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR-WA | — | 105.4 | $1,878 | $505 |
| Longview, WA · compare | 45 mi | 97.5 | $1,398 | $1,270 (+$765) |
| Salem, OR · compare | 46 mi | 103.6 | $1,692 | $843 (+$338) |
| Albany, OR · compare | 67 mi | 102.1 | $1,726 | $724 (+$219) |
| Corvallis, OR · compare | 74 mi | 104.0 | $1,857 | $650 (+$145) |
| Olympia, WA · compare | 105 mi | 103.7 | $1,946 | $738 (+$233) |
| Eugene, OR · compare | 105 mi | 101.6 | $1,546 | $955 (+$450) |
Common moves to and from Portland, OR-WA
Census ACS metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020), people who moved in a year.
- Seattle, WA8,005
- Salem, OR7,969
- Phoenix, AZ4,772
- Eugene, OR4,366
- Longview, WA3,642
- Salem, OR8,516
- Seattle, WA5,786
- Los Angeles, CA4,351
- San Francisco, CA4,281
Frequently asked questions
Is Portland, OR-WA expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Portland, OR-WA metro at 105.4 (US = 100) in 2024 — 5.4% above the national average and the 27th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 125.1, goods 105.2.
What salary do you need to live in Portland, OR-WA?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $3,833 a month after 2026 taxes and has $505 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Portland, OR-WA?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $1,633 for a 1-bedroom and $1,878 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $1,724.
Does Portland have a local income tax?+
Portland residents (Multnomah County) owe the Metro Supportive Housing Services tax and the Multnomah County Preschool for All tax; both apply only above high income thresholds. On $75,000 a single filer would owe about $0 a year in local tax under our 2026 data.