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Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

Cost of living in Portland, Oregon

Multnomah County, OR

Part of the Portland Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$4,028/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 803,863 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,750 43%
Federal tax $641 16%
Healthcare $480 12%
Groceries $350 9%
State tax $334 8%
Transport $250 6%
Energy $163 4%
Water $60 1%

Rent in Portland

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 Portland

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$86,247
per year
Individual earnings
$49,244
per year
Per capita
$52,354
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Portland

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$528,000
Annual property tax
$5,061

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Portland

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 Portland

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.9%

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 Portland

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 Portland

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
25.0 min
Drive alone
53.6%
Public transit
6.5%
Work from home
23.1%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Portland

What it costs to live in Portland each month.

Single person
$4,028
per month
  • Rent $1,750
  • Energy $163
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $350
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $641
  • State tax $334
Couple
$5,743
per month
  • Rent $1,997
  • Energy $196
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $580
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,082
  • State tax $604
Family
$8,634
per month
  • Rent $2,739
  • Energy $244
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $880
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,082
  • State tax $604

Frequently asked questions about Portland

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Portland?

In Portland, Oregon, 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 Portland?

In Portland, Oregon, the average household income is $86,247 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $49,244 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Portland?

The estimated cost of living in Portland, Oregon is approximately $4,028 per month for a single person, $5,743 for a couple, $8,634 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Portland?

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

Is Portland an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Portland, Oregon would need approximately $4,028 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $86,247 per year ($7,187 per month). Portland has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Portland?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Portland, Oregon is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.9% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Portland?

The average home value in Portland, Oregon is $528,000, with average annual property taxes of $5,061, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Portland compare to other areas?

You can compare Portland, Oregon with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Portland 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 Portland 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