Living in Portland, OR: Cost of Living, Lifestyle and More

Portland, Oregon, is known for “keeping it weird.” There’s an edgy music and art scene, out-of-the-box places to get food and drinks, and a laid back, liberal culture. It’s also surrounded by breathtaking nature, from the rocky shores of the West Coast to the powdered peaks of Mount Hood and the dense, mossy forests in between. 

• You might not need a car. Walk Score says that, “Portland might be the most walking, biking, and public transit friendly city on the West Coast.”
• It’s an extremely bikeable city, with more than 400 miles of bike lanes, bike-sharing programs and a strong cycling community.
• Portland is home to Forest Park, the largest urban park in the country. 
• There’s easy access to Mount Hood for skiing, Silver Falls State Park for hiking, and the Oregon Coast for whale watching and water activities.

• It rains a lot from October to May, though summers are dry.
• The cost of living is 24% higher than the national average, according to PayScale.
• Oregon has a steep income tax for higher earners.

Portland is one of the largest cities in the Pacific Northwest and a good representation of the region. The city has plenty to offer when it comes to nature. Lush, mossy forests, rocky coastlines and snow-capped peaks are some of the highlights. Mount Hood is a popular skiing and snowboarding getaway, as well as a stunning backdrop to the Portland cityscape. 

The Pacific Northwest is also known for its gloomy, rainy weather. While there may be more overcast days than there are sunny ones, the wet climate comes with perks, too. The frequent rainfall makes for fertile soil and lush vegetation, and with the Pacific Ocean nearby, the region’s food scene is ripe with fresh seafood and locally grown produce. Though coffee beans may not be one of the region’s major exports, the Pacific Northwest’s rainy weather has contributed to a flowering coffee shop culture. 

The 2022 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the median household income in Portland, Oregon, is $81,119. However, some research suggests that you’ll need to earn more in Portland to feel financially secure.

A 2024 study published by SmartAsset found that Portland residents should earn $110,032 yearly to live comfortably. A couple raising two children should earn $289,786 to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey, the median home value of owner-occupied homes in Portland, Oregon, is $562,500. The median rent in Portland is $1,480 per month. 

Homes.com listing data shows that average home values in Portland range from $280,000 in Old Town Chinatown to 1.82M in the Dunthorpe neighborhood. 

If moving to Portland is on your radar, you’ll want to explore the city’s unique neighborhoods. From the artistic flair of the Pearl District to the charming architecture in Laurelhurst, the city offers a variety of communities to explore.

The Pearl District is one of Portland’s trendiest and most artistic neighborhoods, though its cobblestoned streets and converted lofts hint at its industrial origins. Its streets are lined with art galleries, with a crowd celebrating local artists on the first Thursday of each month. Powell’s City of Books, the world’s largest independently owned bookstore, stretches an entire city block of the Pearl District. 

Portland staples in the Pearl District include the Barista coffee shop and Fields Park, with the latter offering prime views of the Fremont Bridge and the Willamette River. The Botanist’s rooftop deck draws a good crowd with flower-garnished craft cocktails, while Teardrop Lounge offers a moody atmosphere with spirits that hover on a floating glass bar. 

Next to downtown Portland and the Pearl District, Nob Hill is known for its best-in-class shopping. Local boutiques, galleries, theaters and restaurants have taken over the neighborhood’s Victorian-style buildings, which were once home to Portland’s affluent population. 

Keeping true to Portland’s quirk factor, the Nob Hill neighborhood is home to the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum, which features exhibits that range from alien invasions to life-size models of Bigfoot. 

Across the Willamette River in the Northeast quadrant of Portland, Laurelhurst is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. Developed in the 1900s, it’s one of the first planned neighborhoods in the country, as evidenced by its central roundabout, which is graced by a bronze statue of Joan of Arc. 

The neighborhood’s architecture ranges from Craftsman bungalows and Portland Foursquares to Spanish Revival houses built between 1910 and 1925. In fact, there’s a historical home tour every year, and some of the stops have made it on the National Register of Historic Places.  

Goose Hollow is a trendy neighborhood in Portland that offers a mix of historic charm and modern amenities. Named after the geese that once roamed the area, the neighborhood provides a great food scene, with options ranging from food carts to high-end steakhouses. The neighborhood's crown jewel is Providence Park, which is home to the Portland Timbers and Thorns.

St. Johns offers a unique blend of small-town charm and easy access to Portland's attractions. Despite having an industrial area, the neighborhood maintains a quiet vibe with convenient amenities. St. Johns has plenty of green spaces, with parks and natural areas surrounding the community. 

People who live in St. Johns have a strong sense of community, with numerous local events and a farmers market. There’s easy access to downtown via public transportation and major highways, making St. Johns a great choice if you want to live in a quiet community with good connections to the city.

Hosford-Abernethy is located 2 miles from downtown Portland. It offers historic charm, particularly in the Ladd's Addition area, with its unique diagonal streets and early 20th-century homes. There are also modern conveniences, with a variety of restaurants and shops lining Southeast Division Street. Hosford-Abernethy is home to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and the Clinton Street Theater, one of the oldest operating movie theaters in the country.

Portland offers walkable neighborhoods and well-regarded cycling infrastructure. There’s also an abundance of parks and natural beauty surrounding the city, from mountains to the Oregon Coast.

Portland snatched fifth place on Conde Nast Traveler’s list of the most walkable cities. The list, based on a 2023 Smart Growth America report, considered factors like intersection density and proximity to transit. Walk Score gave the city of Portland an overall score of 67 out of 100, but many neighborhoods near downtown Portland exceed that rating with great walkability. 

The city of Portland is very bikeable, with a Bike Score of 83/100 and around 400 miles of well-marked bike lanes and paths. The Rose City has also implemented buffered bike lanes and “bike boxes” that are designed to facilitate right turns and make roads safer. The transportation department has even partnered with Nike on Biketown, a bike-share program that offers electric bikes. 

It’s not only the street design and infrastructure that encourage biking. The Portland cycling community plans numerous rides throughout the year, providing an excuse to get on the roads and meet other passionate bikers. Forever embracing the weird, Portland is home to one of the largest World Naked Bike Rides, a global event held in 74 cities.  

Portland’s public transportation system is extensive, and it makes getting around the city and its outskirts convenient. The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District (TriMet) is the area’s most comprehensive service, with a commuter rail, five light rails and a network of 75 buses. TriMet’s Westside Express Service (WES) commuter rail runs from Wilsonville, Oregon, in the south toward the Intel and Nike corporate campuses near Beaverton during the morning and afternoon rush hours. 

The Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) light rail system connects the suburbs of Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro and Milwaukie, as well as North and Northeast Portland, to downtown Portland. The light rail runs every 15 minutes, as do the three Portland Streetcar lines that loop through the city streets. 

Portland has ample green space in its urban areas. The city is home to one of the largest urban parks in the country: Forest Park, with more than 5,000 acres of dense, mossy forest. It features more than 80 miles of trails and more than 40 access points to the park. 

Washington Park is an expansive green space nearby, featuring a meticulously maintained rose garden, a botanical garden and a zoo. The Hoyt Arboretum within the park is a “museum of living trees” with a collection of 2,300 species of trees and shrubs from six continents. The Portland Japanese Garden is another attraction, which offers Japanese demonstrations, performances and art exhibits. 

The Oregon Zoo is home to lions, tigers, black bears and polar bears, as well as naked mole rats, Pacific lampreys and African painted dogs. Showcasing over 600 varieties of roses, the International Rose Test Garden pays homage to Portland’s identity as the City of Roses. 

On the outskirts of the city, Tryon Creek State Natural Area is a wildlife refuge and Portland’s only state park. It spans 658 acres of second-growth forest teeming with moss, mushrooms, slugs, owlets and woodpeckers. Nature enthusiasts can explore the area by bike, on foot or on hooves, using the park’s packed gravel equestrian trails. 

There’s no shortage of outdoor activities available when you live in Portland. Mount Hood, arguably the area’s most impressive natural attraction, is about 60 miles away. It attracts hikers and skiers alike, with five ski areas and a night skiing terrain. 

Silver Falls State Park is roughly 50 miles from Portland and includes the Trail of Ten Falls, which is a hikers’ favorite. It offers 10 miles of trail that snakes past breathtaking waterfalls. 

If you prefer the beach, Portland is only about 80 miles from the coast. Gray whales glide past Oregon beaches to Baja, Mexico in the winter months. During spring and summer, you can also see them head toward Alaska. 

Portland residents who don’t want to venture as far as the Oregon coast can enjoy the Willamette River. Fishermen wait patiently for Chinook salmon to bite while paddle boarders and kayakers slowly float down the water. For more high-speed fun, several facilities rent jet boats, jet skis and pontoon boats.  

Like other metro areas, Portland has its share of challenges. These include dreary weather, and a cost of living that’s higher than the national average. Depending on how much you make, Oregon state income taxes can also be on the high side. 

The Portland area experiences all four seasons. However, the longest season is the rainy one, lasting from October to May. You can pack your rain jacket and umbrella away in the summer though. July and August are relatively dry, with each month typically producing less than one inch of precipitation.  

Even in the rainy season, Portland residents are known for forging on with their plans. Like its rainy neighbor Seattle, Portland is known for its local coffee shops, which prove the perfect place to warm up on a rainy winter day. 

The cost of living in Portland, Oregon is 24% higher than the national average, according to Payscale. Housing costs account for a significant portion of the difference. Payscale indicates that homes in Portland cost 62% more than the national average, while transportation costs, such as fuel and public transportation fares, are 22% higher.

Oregon’s state tax rate is a major contributor to Portland’s elevated cost of living. Single earners who make over $125,000, or joint filers who make $250,000 combined, pay 9.9% of their salaries to the state of Oregon. However, there is no sales tax in Oregon, which encourages residents to support local businesses. 

If you don’t mind a bit of rain and you’re down to embrace the weird, Portland may be a good fit for you. Portland checks a lot of boxes with its local technology industry recognized as “Silicon Forest,” lush Pacific Northwest nature and magnetic culture. Though the winter rain can get a little harsh, you won’t have to wait for the “Seattle freeze” to thaw, and Portland’s laidback food scene is certainly a competitor. 

If you’re looking at homes for sale in Portland, connect with a real estate agent who can help you plant roots in the Rose City. 

Is Portland, Oregon, a good place to live? Portland is a good place to live if you value outdoor recreation, an award-winning culinary scene, green spaces and plenty of bike paths. Its downsides include rainy weather, and a cost of living that’s higher than the national average. 

How much do I need to make to live in Portland, Oregon?  The cost of living in Portland, Oregon, is higher than the national average. The U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the median household income in Portland is $81,119. More than 40% of households in Portland have a yearly income of $100,000 or more. A 2024 SmartAsset study indicates that you should earn about $110,032 yearly to live comfortably. 

Is Portland or Seattle better? Both Pacific Northwest cities feature stunning nature and a healthy technology job market. Seattle boasts higher salaries and a more upscale dining scene, while Portland features a more casual culture and lower real estate prices. 

Is Portland an expensive place to live?  According to PayScale, the cost of living in Portland is 24% higher than the national average.