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Salem, OR

Cost of living in Polk County, OR

Part of the Salem Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,301/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 88,553 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,198 36%
Federal tax $520 16%
Healthcare $480 15%
Groceries $350 11%
State tax $280 8%
Transport $250 8%
Energy $163 5%
Water $60 2%

Rent in Polk County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,147
per month
1 bedroom
$1,198
per month
2 bedroom
$1,543
per month
3 bedroom
$2,148
per month
4 bedroom
$2,334
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Polk County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$81,318
per year
Individual earnings
$41,870
per year
Per capita
$39,423
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Polk County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$419,500
Annual property tax
$3,534

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Polk 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 Polk County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.1%

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 Polk 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 Polk County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
26.3 min
Drive alone
68.9%
Public transit
0.6%
Work from home
16.0%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Polk County

What it costs to live in Polk County each month.

Single person
$3,301
per month
  • Rent $1,198
  • Energy $163
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $350
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $520
  • State tax $280
Couple
$5,172
per month
  • Rent $1,543
  • Energy $196
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $580
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,001
  • State tax $568
Family
$7,926
per month
  • Rent $2,148
  • Energy $244
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $880
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,001
  • State tax $568

Frequently asked questions about Polk County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Polk County?

In Polk County, OR, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,198 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,543 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,148 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Polk County?

In Polk County, OR, the average household income is $81,318 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $41,870 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Polk County?

The estimated cost of living in Polk County, OR is approximately $3,301 per month for a single person, $5,172 for a couple, $7,926 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Polk County?

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

Is Polk County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Polk County, OR would need approximately $3,301 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $81,318 per year ($6,777 per month). Polk County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Polk County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Polk County, OR is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.1% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Polk County?

The average home value in Polk County, OR is $419,500, with average annual property taxes of $3,534, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Polk County compare to other areas?

You can compare Polk County, OR with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Polk County is in the Salem, OR 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 Polk 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