Cost of living in the Salem Metro Area
2 counties across OR. Population: 435,085.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Salem Metro Area
Average rent across the Salem metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Salem Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 2 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Salem Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Salem Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 2 counties in the Salem Metro Area
The Salem metro area includes 2 counties. Sorted by population.
- Salem OR$3,318/moPop346,532 Rent$1,198/mo Income$74,624/yrSalem OR 346,532 $1,198/mo $74,624/yr $3,318/mo
- Polk County OR$3,301/moPop88,553 Rent$1,198/mo Income$81,318/yrPolk County OR 88,553 $1,198/mo $81,318/yr $3,301/mo
Compare counties in the Salem Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Salem Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Salem Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Salem metro area is approximately $3,315 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 2 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Salem Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Salem metro area is $1,198 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Salem Metro Area?
Polk County, OR is the most affordable county in the Salem metro area at approximately $3,301 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Salem Metro Area?
Marion County, OR is the most expensive county in the Salem metro area at approximately $3,318 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Salem Metro Area?
The Salem metro area covers 2 counties. The five largest by population are Salem, Polk County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.