Seattle vs Portland
Seattle, WA · Portland, OR
Portland is 21% cheaper than Seattle overall.
Home Price
Seattle: $780,000
Portland: $490,000
Monthly Rent
Seattle: $1,800/mo
Portland: $1,395/mo
COL Index
Seattle: 156
Portland: 123
Median Income
Seattle: $102,900
Portland: $81,200
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 Seattle has the same purchasing power as $78,846 in Portland — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Portland cost 37% more (-$290,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Portland saves you $405/month — $4,860 per year. Median rent: $1,800/mo in Seattle vs $1,395/mo in Portland.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Seattle owners pay roughly $7,176/year in property taxes vs $4,508/year in Portland. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $102,900 in Seattle and $81,200 in Portland. Portland residents earn 21% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 30 minutes in Seattle vs 26 minutes in Portland. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Seattle to Portland, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Seattle | Equivalent in Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $39,423 | -$10,577 |
| $75,000 | $59,135 | -$15,865 |
| $100,000 | $78,846 | -$21,154 |
| $150,000 | $118,269 | -$31,731 |
| $200,000 | $157,692 | -$42,308 |
* 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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Seattle Calculators
Portland Calculators
Related Comparisons
Seattle vs Portland: Common Questions
Is Seattle or Portland cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Portland is cheaper overall. Seattle has a COL index of 156 while Portland scores 123 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Seattle and Portland?
The median home price in Seattle is $780,000 vs $490,000 in Portland — a difference of $290,000 (37%).
What salary do I need in Portland to match my Seattle income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Seattle is equivalent to $78,846 in Portland in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Portland 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.