Cost of living in Portland, OR

Livability score 55 · cost-of-living index 106.7 (US = 100)

How Portland compares

Where Portland falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Map of Portland

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)	106.7	metro-area	#177 of 200
Grocery index (US=100)	104.8	metro-area	#174 of 200
Big Mac price (est.)	$6.07	metro-area	#177 of 200
Median household income	$90,451	metro-area	#29 of 200
Median wage (all occupations)	$47,443	metro-area	#20 of 200

Who lives here

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Median age	39.1 years	metro-area	#111 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+)	42.0%	metro-area	#26 of 200
Foreign-born residents	12.5%	metro-area	#55 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied	62.0%	metro-area	#155 of 200

Economy

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Unemployment rate	5.06%	metro-area	#95 of 200
Population growth (5-yr)	+5.2%	metro-area	#77 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Median home price	$552,022	metro-area	#174 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability)	6.1×	metro-area	#162 of 200
1-yr home appreciation	-1.1%	metro-area	#160 of 200
Price per square foot	$325	metro-area	#177 of 200
Typical home size (implied)	1,700 sqft
Median rent (monthly)	$1,797	metro-area	#136 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory)	8,531
Median days on market	12	metro-area	#65 of 200

Taxes

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)	10.8%	state	#131 of 200
Combined sales tax	0.00%	state	#1 of 200
State income tax (top rate)	9.90%
Capital gains tax	9.90%	state	#165 of 200
High earners	No special surtax
Social Security in retirement	Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate	0.92%	metro-area	#110 of 200
Median property tax paid	$4,482	metro-area	#166 of 200

Health & childcare

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Life expectancy at birth	79.1 years	metro-area	#33 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult)	$6,600	state	#65 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents)	6.6%	metro-area	#55 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k	103	metro-area	#14 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center)	$15,000	state	#141 of 200

Vehicles & commute

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Annual registration	$130	state	#107 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual)	None	state	#1 of 200
Emissions testing	Required
Emissions detail	Required in major metro counties
DMV & license offices	8
Avg commute to work	26 min	metro-area	#137 of 200
Commute by driving alone	63.2%	metro-area	#11 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min	34.7%	metro-area	#132 of 200

Utilities & fuel

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Electricity	15.8¢/kWh	state	#64 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill	$142	state	#64 of 200
Gasoline	$4.10/gal	state	#170 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)	$58	state	#58 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)	$224	state	#195 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill)	$82	state	#129 of 200

Insurance

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Home insurance (annual)	$900	state	#1 of 200
Auto insurance (annual)	$1,500	state	#41 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Main natural hazards	Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk)	94.6 — Relatively High	metro-area	#140 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)	$650	state	#41 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual)	$600	state	#172 of 200

Climate & air quality

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)	38	metro-area	#25 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load)	300	metro-area	#2 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state)	76%	state	#168 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load)	4,600	metro-area	#110 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F	12	metro-area	#54 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F	1	metro-area	#105 of 200
Avg summer high (state)	82°F	metro-area	#10 of 200
Avg winter low	34°F	metro-area	#76 of 200
Annual precipitation	43.7"	metro-area	#113 of 200
Annual snowfall	3.4"	metro-area	#78 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible)	48%	metro-area	#186 of 200
Plant hardiness zone	8b
Frost window	02-25 → 12-01

Safety

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)	340	state	#48 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)	3,000	state	#186 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Grocery stores	55	metro-area	#108 of 200
Parks	56
Hiking areas	32
Golf courses	17
Shooting ranges	8
Lakes	1

Permits

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)	4	state	#147 of 200
Permit detail	Difficult; zoning + review

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Portland

Major public and private employers in the Portland, OR area.

Employer	Sector	Jobs
Intel	Tech	Careers →
Providence Health & Services	Healthcare	Search →
OHSU	Education	Search →
Fred Meyer	Retail	Careers →
Portland Public Schools	Education	Search →
City of Portland	Government	Search →

Salaries by occupation in Portland

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

Occupation	Median pay
Lawyers	$158,450
Pharmacists	$158,010
Dentists	$157,520
Financial Managers	$150,020
Physician Assistants	$145,740
Marketing Managers	$145,020
Human Resources Managers	$138,760
Software Developers	$132,870
Construction Managers	$128,100
Data Scientists	$126,450
Registered Nurses	$116,850
Dental Hygienists	$109,100
Mechanical Engineers	$102,500
Physical Therapists	$100,390
General & Operations Managers	$99,560
Civil Engineers	$99,560
Electricians	$96,940
Elementary School Teachers	$94,760
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$91,420
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters	$84,890
Accountants & Auditors	$80,540
Web Developers	$75,250
Carpenters	$64,640
Real Estate Sales Agents	$62,570
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$61,590
Welders, Cutters & Solderers	$59,680
Graphic Designers	$59,590
Medical Assistants	$49,850