City comparison
Portland vs Seattle Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Portland (120.2) and Seattle (137.2).
Portland Index
120.2
Seattle Index
137.2
Portland Rent
$2,675
Seattle Rent
$3,475
Portland Home price
$500,000
Seattle Home price
$636,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Portland to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Seattle.
Equivalent salary in Seattle
$109,577
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Portland and Seattle.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Portland | Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 145 | 184 | +39.0 (+26.9%) |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | +6.0 (+5.4%) |
| Transportation | 107 | 113 | +6.0 (+5.6%) |
| Healthcare | 104 | 109 | +5.0 (+4.8%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 103 | +2.0 (+2.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 109 | 116 | +7.0 (+6.4%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,440 / $6,410
Portland / Seattle
Couple
$9,030 / $10,640
Portland / Seattle
Family
$12,730 / $15,000
Portland / Seattle
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Portland city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Portland.
View Seattle city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Seattle.
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.