Cost of Living in Portland, OR
| Cost of Living in Portland, OR | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 25% higher | 60% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 9% lower | 8% lower |
| Food | 4% higher | 8% higher |
| Healthcare | 5% higher | 6% higher |
| Transportation | 3% higher | 22% higher |
| Goods & Services | 6% higher | 12% higher |
The cost of living in Portland, OR is 10% higher than the state average and 23% higher than the national average. Portland, OR housing is 60% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 8% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 12% more in Portland, OR than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 12% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 6% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 12% pricier in Portland, OR.
Housing (Buy and Rent)
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Portland is $1,763, while home prices circle around $671,523.
Utilities (Monthly)
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Portland, energy bills cost around $162.87 per month.
Food
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $3.42 in Portland, a dozen eggs go for around $3.29 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.59.
Healthcare
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Portland, an optometry check-up costs around $123.73, while a dentist appointment is priced $115.68 on average.
Transportation
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.50 in Portland, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $72.59.
Goods & Services
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $33.44 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $28.70.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Portland, you should budget around $13.48 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $39.27, while dry cleaning costs about $18.63.
Income
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Portland, the median household income is $78,476.