✦ Cost of living
Portland
Portland, Oregon
US = 100
Metro median gross rent: $1,670/mo · U.S. Census ACS 2023
In plain terms: Portland is about 7% pricier than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,600/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing127+27%
- Food & groceries97−3%
- Transport99−1%
- Utilities84−16%
- Healthcare101+1%
- Goods & services101+1%
Is Portland expensive?
Yes, moderately. Portland indexes at 107 against a US average of 100 — roughly 7% above it. That is above average without being in the top bracket, and which neighbourhood you rent in decides most of the gap.
Of the 87 cities we track, Portland ranks #29 by overall cost — 58 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Portland costs
One person
$3,140/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$4,300/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$7,550/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,300 | $1,600 | $3,000 |
| Food & groceries | $450 | $650 | $1,090 |
| Transport | $590 | $870 | $1,470 |
| Utilities | $170 | $250 | $420 |
| Healthcare | $280 | $410 | $700 |
| Goods & services | $350 | $520 | $870 |
| Total per month | $3,140 | $4,300 | $7,550 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Portland
Green, quirky and bike-friendly with no sales tax — grey, rainy winters are the trade-off.
- Currency
- US dollar ($ USD)
- Languages
- English
- Time zone
- UTC-8
- Internet
- 200 Mbps
- English
- Native language
- Safety
- 55/100
- Climate
- ❄ 5°C · ☀ 20°C · 144 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- A/B · 120V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- Pearl District · Alberta · Hawthorne
About
“Rose City”
Green, quirky and bike-friendly with no sales tax — grey, rainy winters are the trade-off.
- Currency
- US dollar · USD
- Languages
- English
- Coordinates
- 45.52, -122.68
- Emergency
- 911
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
37%
Income tax
progressive
0%
VAT / sales
7.65%
Social (employee)
21%
Corporate
20%
Capital gains
$4,300
Avg net salary
per month
Federal; states add 0–13.3% on top.
Visas & residency
Employment-based (H-1B, L-1, O-1) and family routes; famously hard for the green card.
✈ N/A for immigration; ESTA for short visits from VWP countries.
Lottery-based, employer-sponsored.
Max stay: 73 months
For top talent; no lottery.
Citizenship after ~5 yrs. Naturalization after 5 years as LPR (3 if married to citizen).
Quality of life
Quality of life
67/100
Safety
55/100
Healthcare
78/100
Pollution
35/100
Internet
200 Mbps
Jan avg
+5 °C
Jul avg
+20 °C
Sunny days
144/yr
Walkability
67/100
Public transit
62/100
Family-friendly
64/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Native
- Expat community
- Medium
- Coworking spaces
- 45
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Private health insurance
- $450/mo
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Portland without a car?
65/100
Car-free score
67/100
Walkability
62/100
Public transport
Mostly — at 65/100, Portland handles everyday trips on foot and by public transport, but a car still helps for weekend trips, bulk shopping and anything outside the built-up core.
Transport in Portland indexes at 99 against a US average of 100 — about 1% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Portland ranks #58 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Portland — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$1,600
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$1,300
- Inexpensive meal$18
- Monthly transit pass$100
- Utilities (monthly)$150
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Portland, OR expensive to live in?
Portland, OR's cost-of-living index is 107 (US average = 100) — about 7% more expensive than a typical US city — and it ranks #29 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $3,140 a month and a family of four around $7,550, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Portland, OR?
Portland, OR's cost-of-living index is 107 (US average = 100) — about 7% more expensive than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $1,600 per month.
What are the average living costs in Portland, OR?
Living costs in Portland, OR are about 7% more expensive than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 107 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,600. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Portland, OR?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $1,600 per month, and around $1,300 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in United States?
United States has a top income-tax rate of 37% and a VAT or sales tax of 0%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Portland, OR?
Portland, OR averages around +5 °C in January and +20 °C in July, with roughly 144 sunny days a year.
Is Portland, OR safe?
Portland, OR scores 55 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Portland, OR without a car?
Portland, OR scores 65/100 on our car-free score — 67/100 for walkability and 62/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
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Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.