What it actually costs to live in Oregon.
Oregon’s cost-of-living index sits at 115 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #11 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Oregon costs about 15% MORE than the US average. Median home price: $535,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,403/mo.
Oregon cost components
| Component | Oregon | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 115 | 100 |
| Median home price | $535,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,403/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $195/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Oregon compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Oregon ranks #11 for cost. That places Oregon in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Oregon metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Portland has very different housing dynamics than smaller Oregon metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- PortlandCOL 123 · home $490,000rent $1,395/mo →
- EugeneCOL 107 · home $420,000rent $1,300/mo →
- SalemCOL 105 · home $375,000rent $1,350/mo →
- BendCOL 120 · home $625,000rent $1,800/mo →
More Oregon metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Oregon cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Oregon?
Oregon's MERIC cost-of-living index is 115 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Oregon costs about 15% more than the US average.
What is the median home price in Oregon?
Oregon's state-level median home price is approximately $535,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Oregon?
Oregon's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,403/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Oregon-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Portland metro home prices average ~$525k; Bend/Ashland/Hood River have seen 60%+ appreciation since 2020 due to remote-worker in-migration.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.