Cost of Living in Oregon

By Jamie Cattanach

(Last Updated – 03/2025)

From the ocean crashing along the western coastline to the high desert in the east — and of course with all the wacky weirdness of Portland in between — Oregon is less of a hidden gem than it used to be.

But newcomers (or those who hope to be) may wonder how much they can expect to spend to live in the Beaver State.

We’ve gathered all the data so you can get your wallet as ready for boulder-strewn beaches and evergreen forests as you are.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Oregon?

Average Cost of Living in Oregon: $55,412 per year

Oregon may be one of the most beautiful states in the union, but unfortunately, it’s not one of the cheapest. Per MERIC’s 2024 cost of living index, Oregon is 38th.

Here’s how the individual cost categories break down, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Personal Consumption Expenditures by State report.

Housing Costs in Oregon

Average Housing Costs in Oregon: $1,251 to $2,080 per month

The typical home value in Oregon, per June 2024 data from Zillow, is $490,095 — whereas the average sale price of an existing home in the U.S. is $355,000, according to Zillow’s March 2025 data.

Of course, where in Oregon you live matters a great deal when it comes to the price of purchasing a home. Here’s what the breakdown looks like by city, with home values as of December 2024 from Zillow:

Which metro area you’re in will also affect rent prices (spoiler alert: Portland, as cool as it is, is also spendy). Here are the average rent figures, per U.S. Census Bureau data:

•  Median monthly mortgage cost: $2,080

•  Median studio rent: $1,251

•  Median one-bedroom rent: $1,280

•  Median two-bedroom rent: $1,490

•  Median three-bedroom rent: $1,783

•  Median four-bedroom rent: $1,990

•  Median gross rent: $1,481

Recommended: Portland Housing Market: Trends and Prices

Utility Costs in Oregon

Average Utility Costs in Oregon: $383 per month

Of course keeping a roof over your head is only one part of maintaining a household in Oregon — or anywhere else for that matter. From electricity to cable and internet, here are the average monthly utility costs in this part of the Pacific Northwest Wonderland.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price; Statista.com, “Average monthly residential utility costs in the United States, by state”; DoxoInsights, U.S. Cable & Internet Market Size and Household Spending Report; and Rentcafe.com, What Is the Average Water Bill?

Groceries & Food

Average Grocery & Food Costs in Oregon: $411 per person, per month

No matter where you are, you’ve gotta fill your belly — and whether you’re into seafood or vegan fare, the eats are top-notch in Oregon.

But how much does the average person spend on groceries here?

As mentioned, the average per-capita grocery expenditure in Oregon is $4,933, the Bureau of Economic Analysis says. If you divide that by 12, it comes out to $411 per month, per person, depending on your appetites.

Again, of course, the exact figure also depends on where in the state you live. The Council for Community and Economic Research helpfully calculates the cost of living for major U.S. cities, usually ranking metro areas by the overall cost of groceries. Unfortunately, only two Oregon metro areas were studied in the latest data, which were Portland and Eugene. Portland’s grocery item index number was 107.2, and Eugene’s was 105.2, which are both fairly high numbers, though lower than Seattle’s 110.3.

To put that into perspective: According to the same data set, a half gallon of milk costs about $4.93 in the Portland area, while you can expect to pay $6.99 for a pound of ground beef.

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Oregon: $9,613 to $17,888 per year

Getting around is another important cost to factor in. While major cities like Portland have public transportation resources, there are many smaller, rural communities in this wide-open Western state that rely on personal vehicles to get around. Your exact yearly transportation cost will, of course, vary based on your circumstances, but here’s some helpful data as of February 2025 from the MIT’s Living Wage Calculator based on your family size and circumstances.

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in Oregon: $9,155 per person, per year

Oregon is well known for its opportunities for outdoor recreation and sport — which can help people stay stronger and healthier but can also result in costly injuries.

Perhaps it makes sense, then, that the Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Consumption Expenditures by State report estimates Oregon’s annual health care spending at $9,155, or about $763 per month, per person. Once again, your total actual costs will vary depending on your lifestyle, health, location, and family makeup.

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in Oregon: $964 to $1,580 or more per child, per month

Caring for children is costly just about everywhere in this country, and Oregon is no exception.

The good news is, the exact amount you’ll pay will depend greatly on what kind of child care you’re seeking — and in Oregon, home-based family child care, or nannying, is counterintuitively one of the least expensive options.

Here’s some data from CostofChildCare.org:

Taxes

Highest Marginal Tax Rate in Oregon: 9.90%

Oregon is well known for its progressive social agendas, at least in its major cities — so it’s no surprise that it has one of the highest income tax burdens in the United States.

Oregon’s highest marginal tax rate is 9.90%, according to the Tax Foundation’s State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets for 2025. That’s higher than every state except New Jersey (10.75%), Hawaii (11%), and California (13.30%). Keep in mind that this figure does not include federal income tax.

Portland residents can also expect to receive a yearly bill for the Portland Arts Tax, a special fund that goes to support schoolteachers and arts-focused nonprofits in the state’s capital.

The bright side? There’s no sales tax in Oregon — even when you order things online from out of state.

Miscellaneous Costs

Enough of the pedestrian stuff. How much does it cost to have fun in Oregon?

As was touched on in the first section, the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates the average per-capita personal expenditures in Oregon at $30,007 per year (what you spend after housing, food, health care, etc.). While the specifics depend on where you are and what you’re into, here’s where some of that dough might be going (costs accurate as of March 2025).

•  Entrance fee to Crater Lake National Park, home of the deepest lake in America: $30 per vehicle for a seven-day pass in the summer ($20 in winter).

•  Entry to the Portland Art Museum, the seventh-oldest in the United States: $25 per adult; children 17 and under get in free.

•  A “Voodoo dozen” at Voodoo Donut in Portland: 13 donuts in their iconic pink bakery box, $29.50.

•  Lift tickets to ski on Mount Bachelor: Starting at $99 (online) for a full-day adult pass, though it varies by day.

•  Cheese curds at the TIllamook Creamery Cafe in Tillamook: $12 for fried cheddar delights. (A self-guided tour of the creamery is free.)

Of course, in a state known for its natural beauty, there are many wonderful recreation opportunities that are free of charge — or close to it. The vast network of hiking trails around Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge are generally free to enter, though you may need to purchase a parking pass depending on where the trailhead is, and permits may be required on popular trails during the high season.

Wandering along many of Oregon’s stunning beaches is also free (not counting the seafood you’re likely to enjoy while you visit the area), and Portland is known for its many well-manicured, free-to-enter parks, including 5,200-acre Forest Park, one of the largest urban green spaces in the nation.

Recommended: What Are the Average Monthly Expenses for One Person?

How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Oregon?

Definitions of “comfortable” vary, so it’s impossible to say how much money you’d need to earn to feel comfortable in Oregon (or anywhere else, for that matter).

But all things considered, Oregon is a fairly spendy state by any reckoning: U.S. News and World Report Affordability Ranking, ranks it 40th, on a scale from most to least affordable. MERIC positioned it two below at 38th, which is to say: Living comfortably in Oregon will likely require a decent income, or some budgetary creativity.

Of course, you can tip the scale in your favor by choosing a city with a lower cost of living.

What City Has the Lowest Cost of Living in Oregon?

While the Council for Community and Economic Research only studied the Portland and Eugene metro areas in its latest cost of living index, good data exists on which Oregon cities have relatively low housing costs — which is, after all, one of the largest budget line items for most families.

According to 2024 data from Zillow, homes are costliest in Bend ($666,206), Portland ($541,122), and Hood River ($678,577) and least costly in the following three towns.