Portland Cost of Living

What living in Portland costs

Portland runs at 1.10x the US national average — 16 of the 99 other metros tracked here cost more, 80 cost less. A one-bedroom goes for about $1,550 a month, or $18,600 a year, and the median home sits near $530,000.

The price-to-rent ratio here is roughly 28, which is high. Above about 20, renting and investing the down payment usually beats buying over a normal holding period — the purchase price is steep relative to what the same property earns as a rental.

Working and living here

Portland is a metro of roughly 2.5M and roughly flat, running on technology ('Silicon Forest'), apparel/footwear, manufacturing. Larger employers include Intel, Nike (HQ, Beaverton), Providence Health & Services.

Two tax details that change take-home here: Portland levies a local income tax of about 1.50% on top of state and federal — roughly $1,500 a year on a $100,000 salary — and Oregon taxes income as well.

Getting around: Portland is workable without a car in many neighborhoods. Going car-free is realistic in parts of the metro, which is worth roughly $9,000 a year against a car-dependent city at the same rent.

Climate: Marine west coast climate: January lows near 36°F, July highs near 81°F, mild and wet in winter, dry summers.

Oregon has no sales tax, but Portland has layered on local income-based taxes (Metro Supportive Housing Services tax plus Multnomah County Preschool for All tax) that push combined top marginal rates for high earners above 14%.