City comparison
Seattle vs Portland Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Seattle (137.2) and Portland (120.2).
Seattle Index
137.2
Portland Index
120.2
Seattle Rent
$3,475
Portland Rent
$2,675
Seattle Home price
$636,000
Portland Home price
$500,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Seattle to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Portland.
Equivalent salary in Portland
$98,999
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Seattle and Portland.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Seattle | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 184 | 145 | -39.0 (-21.2%) |
| Groceries | 118 | 112 | -6.0 (-5.1%) |
| Transportation | 113 | 107 | -6.0 (-5.3%) |
| Healthcare | 109 | 104 | -5.0 (-4.6%) |
| Utilities | 103 | 101 | -2.0 (-1.9%) |
| Miscellaneous | 116 | 109 | -7.0 (-6.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,410 / $5,440
Seattle / Portland
Couple
$10,640 / $9,030
Seattle / Portland
Family
$15,000 / $12,730
Seattle / Portland
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Seattle city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Seattle.
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.