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Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

Cost of living in Columbia County, OR

Part of the Portland Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$4,031/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 53,178 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,750 43%
Federal tax $595 15%
Healthcare $480 12%
Groceries $350 9%
Transport $320 8%
State tax $313 8%
Energy $163 4%
Water $60 1%

Rent in Columbia County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,628
per month
1 bedroom
$1,750
per month
2 bedroom
$1,997
per month
3 bedroom
$2,739
per month
4 bedroom
$3,217
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Columbia County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$86,359
per year
Individual earnings
$46,430
per year
Per capita
$39,526
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Columbia County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$390,600
Annual property tax
$2,948

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Columbia County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$117
per month · 13¢/kWh
Natural gas
$46
per month
Annual total
$1,956
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Columbia County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.7%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Columbia County

State and local tax rates for Oregon.

State income tax
9.9%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
0.0%
Combined sales tax
0.0%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Columbia County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
32.9 min
Drive alone
72.3%
Public transit
0.2%
Work from home
11.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Columbia County

What it costs to live in Columbia County each month.

Single person
$4,031
per month
  • Rent $1,750
  • Energy $163
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $350
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $595
  • State tax $313
Couple
$5,815
per month
  • Rent $1,997
  • Energy $196
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $580
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,083
  • State tax $605
Family
$8,706
per month
  • Rent $2,739
  • Energy $244
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $880
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,083
  • State tax $605

Frequently asked questions about Columbia County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Columbia County?

In Columbia County, OR, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,750 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,997 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,739 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Columbia County?

In Columbia County, OR, the average household income is $86,359 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $46,430 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Columbia County?

The estimated cost of living in Columbia County, OR is approximately $4,031 per month for a single person, $5,815 for a couple, $8,706 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Columbia County?

The combined sales tax rate in Columbia County, OR is 0.00%, which includes the Oregon state rate of 0.00% plus an average local rate of 0.00%.

Is Columbia County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Columbia County, OR would need approximately $4,031 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $86,359 per year ($7,197 per month). Columbia County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Columbia County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Columbia County, OR is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Columbia County?

The average home value in Columbia County, OR is $390,600, with average annual property taxes of $2,948, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Columbia County compare to other areas?

You can compare Columbia County, OR with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Columbia County is in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area.

Other counties in Oregon

Browse the full list of counties in Oregon, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Oregon

Compare Columbia County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources