Portland vs Seattle
Portland, OR · Seattle, WA
Portland is 27% cheaper than Seattle overall.
Home Price
Portland: $490,000
Seattle: $780,000
Monthly Rent
Portland: $1,395/mo
Seattle: $1,800/mo
COL Index
Portland: 123
Seattle: 156
Median Income
Portland: $81,200
Seattle: $102,900
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Portland has the same purchasing power as $126,829 in Seattle — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Seattle are 59% cheaper (-$290,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Portland saves you $405/month — $4,860 per year. Median rent: $1,395/mo in Portland vs $1,800/mo in Seattle.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Portland owners pay roughly $4,508/year in property taxes vs $7,176/year in Seattle. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $81,200 in Portland and $102,900 in Seattle. Portland residents earn 27% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 26 minutes in Portland vs 30 minutes in Seattle. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Portland to Seattle, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Portland | Equivalent in Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $63,415 | +$13,415 |
| $75,000 | $95,122 | +$20,122 |
| $100,000 | $126,829 | +$26,829 |
| $150,000 | $190,244 | +$40,244 |
| $200,000 | $253,659 | +$53,659 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Portland Calculators
Seattle Calculators
Related Comparisons
Portland vs Seattle: Common Questions
Is Portland or Seattle cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Portland is cheaper overall. Portland has a COL index of 123 while Seattle scores 156 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Portland and Seattle?
The median home price in Portland is $490,000 vs $780,000 in Seattle — a difference of $290,000 (59%).
What salary do I need in Seattle to match my Portland income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Portland is equivalent to $126,829 in Seattle in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Seattle has a lower property tax rate (0.92% vs 0.92%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $4,508/year vs $7,176/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.