Arizona vs Oregon: cost of living compared

Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).

Is it cheaper to live in Arizona or Oregon?

  • Overall, Oregon is 2.7% more expensive than Arizona (BEA, 2024).
  • To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Arizona works out to about $77,000 in Oregon, before taxes.
  • Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 10.4% higher and other services 2.4% lower in Oregon, while housing is 1.7% higher.
  • Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 16.0% higher in Oregon.
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $55,451 in Oregon and $52,890 in Arizona (4.8% higher in Oregon; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
  • Inside each state, metro price levels run from 97.8 in Grants Pass, OR to 105.4 in Portland, OR (Oregon) and from 89.2 in Sierra Vista, AZ to 103.3 in Phoenix, AZ (Arizona), US = 100.
  • The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Oregon was 6.2% more expensive than Arizona.

derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.

Try your own salary

18% matches BEA's average basket. Set your own share if housing takes more or less of your budget.

Category by category

Both states against the US average (100).

Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Arizona and Oregon

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

  • Arizona
  • Oregon
All items
Arizona: 100.7 Oregon: 103.4
Goods
Arizona: 95.4 Oregon: 105.3
Housing (rents)
Arizona: 106.8 Oregon: 108.6
Utilities
Arizona: 92.3 Oregon: 107.0
Other services
Arizona: 102.8 Oregon: 100.3

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
ArizonaOregon
All items100.7103.4
Goods95.4105.3
Housing (rents)106.8108.6
Utilities92.3107.0
Other services102.8100.3
CategoryArizonaOregonOregon vs Arizona
All items100.7103.4+2.7%
Goods95.4105.3+10.4%
Housing (rents)106.8108.6+1.7%
Utilities92.3107.0+16.0%
Other services102.8100.3−2.4%
Income per person, adjusted for prices $52,890 $55,451 +4.8%
Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* $5.56 $5.56 0.0%
Salary to match $75,000 in Arizona $75,000 $77,000 +2.7%

Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *West Coast region average (EIA has no separate Arizona figure). *West Coast region average (EIA has no separate Oregon figure).

Cheapest and most expensive places in each state

Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.

How the gap has changed since 2008

The price gap between Arizona and Oregon has narrowed since 2008: 4.7 points then, 2.7 now

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

  • Arizona
  • Oregon
US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
ArizonaOregon
2008102.597.8
2009102.9100.3
2010100.699.4
201199.199.8
201298.1101.1
201398.4100.2
201497.999.7
201597.9101.1
201698.699.6
201797.9101.5
201897.4104.7
201997.8103.8
202099.2103.2
202196.6103.2
2022100.0106.6
2023100.7104.8
2024100.7103.4

Goods

  • Arizona
  • Oregon
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
ArizonaOregon
2008103.095.3
2009106.4101.6
2010100.199.7
201199.099.8
201298.3100.3
201397.698.5
201497.799.0
201598.599.1
201697.8100.4
201797.2100.2
201895.9104.6
201996.0104.5
2020100.1104.6
202195.1106.5
202298.1109.1
202397.9104.8
202495.4105.3

Housing (rents)

  • Arizona
  • Oregon
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
ArizonaOregon
2008103.398.5
200999.9101.5
201096.9101.3
201194.8100.4
201295.2103.3
201393.6101.7
201492.7103.0
201593.8105.4
201692.4106.5
201793.5110.2
201894.3111.0
201993.6110.2
202097.9110.0
2021102.3109.2
2022106.2110.4
2023108.6109.2
2024106.8108.6

Utilities

  • Arizona
  • Oregon
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
ArizonaOregon
200896.484.2
200996.388.0
2010104.386.4
2011104.392.6
2012100.595.0
201399.089.5
2014100.395.3
2015101.099.4
201697.596.0
201799.094.5
201899.892.5
201992.695.5
202090.095.6
202187.897.0
202287.290.8
202383.391.0
202492.3107.0

Other services

  • Arizona
  • Oregon
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
ArizonaOregon
2008102.3100.5
2009102.199.8
2010102.199.5
2011100.5100.0
201298.8101.4
2013100.9101.6
201499.999.4
201598.7101.2
2016101.597.1
201799.9100.0
201899.4103.4
2019100.8101.8
202099.7100.4
202196.499.1
2022100.1104.5
2023101.2104.2
2024102.8100.3

What incomes buy in each state

Income per person after adjusting for prices: $55,451 in Oregon, $52,890 in Arizona

Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).

  • Arizona
  • Oregon
  • United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.

Show the numbers
ArizonaOregonUnited States
2008$38,966$42,296$45,816
2009$36,634$39,625$44,204
2010$37,162$39,990$44,808
2011$38,403$40,584$45,957
2012$39,284$40,984$46,796
2013$39,204$41,181$46,358
2014$40,281$43,053$47,661
2015$41,960$44,964$49,396
2016$42,568$46,550$49,828
2017$44,279$46,985$51,006
2018$45,675$47,109$52,242
2019$47,236$48,660$53,683
2020$50,292$52,577$56,514
2021$54,424$55,852$59,365
2022$50,935$51,501$57,104
2023$51,960$53,455$58,088
2024$52,890$55,451$59,195

More

Related state comparisons

What this comparison leaves out

  • Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
  • Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
  • Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
  • Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.

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