Cost of living Seattle vs Portland
Using BEA's 2024 regional price parities (RPP), prices in Portland are 5.1% below Seattle. Portland's index is 105.4, compared with Seattle's 111.1 and the US average of 100.
| US = 100 for price levels | Seattle | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Price level, all items | 111.1 | 105.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 151.3 | 125.1 |
| Goods | 104.0 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 92.8 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 106.8 | 100.1 |
| Typical rent a month | $2,227 | $1,719 |
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $822,572 | $524,318 |
| Median household income | $118,745 | $91,478 |
| Price to income | 6.9 | 5.7 |
Sources: 2024 BEA regional price parities for each metro area, the Zillow ZORI and ZHVI indexes, and Census ACS 2024 for income. BEA regional price parities
Salary required for the move from Seattle to Portland
The two price levels set the scale for the salary, and the figure shown is before tax. What you owe in state and local taxes varies. A city by city cost of living comparison covers other cities as well.
Rent in Seattle vs Portland
For homes listed now, the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) reports typical asking rents of $2,227 in Seattle and $1,719 in Portland each month. Portland's rent is 22.8% lower than Seattle's. For housing, BEA's price level follows rents, and Seattle stands at 151.3 while Portland stands at 125.1.
| Rent | Seattle | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $2,227 | $1,719 |
| 12-month change | +0.5% | +1.6% |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $2,007 | $1,648 |
| Housing price level, BEA (US = 100) | 151.3 | 125.1 |
Home prices in Seattle vs Portland
The Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) put a typical home's value at $822,572 in Seattle during September 2026 and $524,318 in Portland. Its measure reflects a typical home's value in the middle of the market. Portland's typical home costs 36.3% less than a typical home in Seattle.
| Home prices | Seattle | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $822,572 | $524,318 |
| 12-month change | −1.8% | +0.5% |
| 10-year change | +44.2% | +26.9% |
| Price to income | 6.9 | 5.7 |
| Price to rent | 30.8 | 25.4 |
The typical home value is the numerator for price to income, while median household income (Census ACS 2024) is the denominator. The price to rent ratio divides the typical home value by one year of asking rent.
Price history for both cities
Seattle appears as the steel line, while Portland appears as the grey line. Since January 2000, the typical home in Seattle increased from $256,562 to $822,572, or ×3.21. In Portland, it rose from $165,917 to $524,318, or ×3.16.