City comparison
Denver vs Portland Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Denver (123.4) and Portland (120.2).
Denver Index
123.4
Portland Index
120.2
Denver Rent
$2,900
Portland Rent
$2,675
Denver Home price
$549,000
Portland Home price
$500,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Denver to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Portland.
Equivalent salary in Portland
$96,433
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Denver and Portland.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Denver | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 159 | 145 | -14.0 (-8.8%) |
| Groceries | 108 | 112 | +4.0 (+3.7%) |
| Transportation | 105 | 107 | +2.0 (+1.9%) |
| Healthcare | 102 | 104 | +2.0 (+2.0%) |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | +4.0 (+4.1%) |
| Miscellaneous | 108 | 109 | +1.0 (+0.9%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,610 / $5,440
Denver / Portland
Couple
$9,310 / $9,030
Denver / Portland
Family
$13,130 / $12,730
Denver / Portland
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Denver city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Denver.
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.