City comparison
Portland vs Denver Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Portland (120.2) and Denver (123.4).
Portland Index
120.2
Denver Index
123.4
Portland Rent
$2,675
Denver Rent
$2,900
Portland Home price
$500,000
Denver Home price
$549,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Portland to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Denver.
Equivalent salary in Denver
$98,556
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Portland and Denver.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Portland | Denver | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 145 | 159 | +14.0 (+9.7%) |
| Groceries | 112 | 108 | -4.0 (-3.6%) |
| Transportation | 107 | 105 | -2.0 (-1.9%) |
| Healthcare | 104 | 102 | -2.0 (-1.9%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 97 | -4.0 (-4.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 109 | 108 | -1.0 (-0.9%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,440 / $5,610
Portland / Denver
Couple
$9,030 / $9,310
Portland / Denver
Family
$12,730 / $13,130
Portland / Denver
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Portland city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Portland.
View Denver city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Denver.
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.