City comparison
San Diego vs Portland Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Diego (141.4) and Portland (120.2).
San Diego Index
141.4
Portland Index
120.2
San Diego Rent
$3,700
Portland Rent
$2,675
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Portland Home price
$500,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Diego to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Portland.
Equivalent salary in Portland
$99,458
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Diego and Portland.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Diego | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 194 | 145 | -49.0 (-25.3%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 112 | -10.0 (-8.2%) |
| Transportation | 109 | 107 | -2.0 (-1.8%) |
| Healthcare | 110 | 104 | -6.0 (-5.5%) |
| Utilities | 108 | 101 | -7.0 (-6.5%) |
| Miscellaneous | 118 | 109 | -9.0 (-7.6%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,650 / $5,440
San Diego / Portland
Couple
$11,040 / $9,030
San Diego / Portland
Family
$15,560 / $12,730
San Diego / Portland
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
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.