Cost of Living: Salem, OR vs Portland, OR
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $3,939/mo in Salem, OR versus $3,939/mo in Portland, OR. In the model, rent is about 19.29% of gross in Salem, OR versus 23.26% in Portland, OR, so Salem, OR tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Salem, OR and Portland, OR.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Salem, OR
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Salem, OR
- Lower home prices: Salem, OR
- Higher median household income: Portland, OR
Cost of Living Index
Salem, OR: 104.2 (U.S. = 100) · Portland, OR: 118.6 (U.S. = 100)
Salem, OR has a lower cost-of-living index than Portland, OR, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
Salem, OR: $1,257/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Portland, OR: $1,517/mo
Median rent in Portland, OR is $260/mo higher than in Salem, OR.
Median Home Price
Salem, OR: $382,400 · Portland, OR: $557,600
Median home price in Portland, OR is $175,200 higher than in Salem, OR.
Median Household Income
Salem, OR: $71,900 · Portland, OR: $88,792
Portland, OR has a higher median household income than Salem, OR by $16,892.
Salem, OR overview · Portland, OR overview · Popular comparisons