City comparison
Austin vs Portland Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Austin (116.9) and Portland (120.2).
Austin Index
116.9
Portland Index
120.2
Austin Rent
$2,675
Portland Rent
$2,675
Austin Home price
$484,000
Portland Home price
$500,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Austin to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Portland.
Equivalent salary in Portland
$96,654
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Austin and Portland.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Austin | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 146 | 145 | -1.0 (-0.7%) |
| Groceries | 103 | 112 | +9.0 (+8.7%) |
| Transportation | 102 | 107 | +5.0 (+4.9%) |
| Healthcare | 99 | 104 | +5.0 (+5.1%) |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | +3.0 (+3.1%) |
| Miscellaneous | 104 | 109 | +5.0 (+4.8%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,310 / $5,440
Austin / Portland
Couple
$8,810 / $9,030
Austin / Portland
Family
$12,430 / $12,730
Austin / Portland
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Austin city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Austin.
View Portland city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Portland.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.