City comparison
Portland vs Charlotte Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Portland (120.2) and Charlotte (108.1).
Portland Index
120.2
Charlotte Index
108.1
Portland Rent
$2,675
Charlotte Rent
$2,325
Portland Home price
$500,000
Charlotte Home price
$406,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Portland to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Charlotte.
Equivalent salary in Charlotte
$86,336
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Portland and Charlotte.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Portland | Charlotte | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 145 | 126 | -19.0 (-13.1%) |
| Groceries | 112 | 99 | -13.0 (-11.6%) |
| Transportation | 107 | 100 | -7.0 (-6.5%) |
| Healthcare | 104 | 97 | -7.0 (-6.7%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 98 | -3.0 (-3.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 109 | 99 | -10.0 (-9.2%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,440 / $4,870
Portland / Charlotte
Couple
$9,030 / $8,080
Portland / Charlotte
Family
$12,730 / $11,400
Portland / Charlotte
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Portland city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Portland.
View Charlotte city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Charlotte.
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.