Cost of living, Portland
105.4
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Portland sits about 5.4% above national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- +5.4%
- Metro
- Portland
- CBSA
- 38900
Portland all-items RPP is 105.4 (2024), about 5.4% above US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $94,860 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Portland
| Component | Portland | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.4 | 100 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 125.1 | 100 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Portland
| At US average | In Portland |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $63,240 |
| $90,000 | $94,860 |
| $150,000 | $158,100 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (105.4 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Portland?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA is 105.4, versus a US average of 100 (+5.4%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $94,860 in Portland for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Chief Executives , 690 OEWS emp. $375,810
- Physicians, All Other , 2,940 OEWS emp. $333,860
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 5,680 OEWS emp. $183,720
- Marketing Managers , 4,050 OEWS emp. $172,610
- Pharmacists , 2,070 OEWS emp. $168,830
- Financial Managers , 5,550 OEWS emp. $164,680
See methodology and disclaimer.