Denver, CO vs Portland, OR: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Portland, OR and Denver, CO are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Denver works out to about $74,700 in Portland, before taxes.
- Housing is 14.8% lower in Portland, goods 4.2% higher and other services 0.7% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 21.8% higher in Portland.
- Typical asking rent is $1,803 a month in Portland and $1,900 in Denver, $1,164 a year less in Portland (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $539,000 in Portland and $555,000 in Denver.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Portland was 2.0% more expensive than Denver.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Denver and Portland
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Denver, CO
- Portland, OR
All items Denver, CO: 105.8 Portland, OR: 105.4
Goods Denver, CO: 101.0 Portland, OR: 105.2
Housing (rents) Denver, CO: 146.9 Portland, OR: 125.1
Utilities Denver, CO: 87.9 Portland, OR: 107.0
Other services Denver, CO: 99.4 Portland, OR: 100.1
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.8 | 105.4 |
| Goods | 101.0 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 146.9 | 125.1 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 100.1 |
| Category | Denver | Portland | Portland vs Denver |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.8 | 105.4 | −0.3% |
| Goods | 101.0 | 105.2 | +4.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 146.9 | 125.1 | −14.8% |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 107.0 | +21.8% |
| Other services | 99.4 | 100.1 | +0.7% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,900 | $1,803 | −5.1% |
| Typical home value | $555,000 | $539,000 | −2.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Denver | $75,000 | $74,700 | −0.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Denver and Portland has narrowed since 2008: 7.1 points then, 0.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Denver, CO
- Portland, OR
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.8 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 101.9 | 101.6 |
| 2011 | 105.0 | 101.9 |
| 2012 | 105.1 | 104.3 |
| 2013 | 104.9 | 103.0 |
| 2014 | 104.8 | 102.1 |
| 2015 | 105.0 | 103.7 |
| 2016 | 105.2 | 101.5 |
| 2017 | 104.3 | 103.8 |
| 2018 | 102.4 | 107.3 |
| 2019 | 104.4 | 106.4 |
| 2020 | 109.4 | 105.8 |
| 2021 | 109.1 | 105.4 |
| 2022 | 107.3 | 108.8 |
| 2023 | 105.8 | 106.7 |
| 2024 | 105.8 | 105.4 |
Goods
- Denver, CO
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.9 | 92.5 |
| 2009 | 102.9 | 102.2 |
| 2010 | 102.9 | 100.3 |
| 2011 | 103.2 | 100.7 |
| 2012 | 102.7 | 102.0 |
| 2013 | 102.9 | 99.6 |
| 2014 | 101.7 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 98.4 |
| 2016 | 100.5 | 100.3 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 100.1 |
| 2018 | 98.8 | 104.6 |
| 2019 | 103.5 | 104.5 |
| 2020 | 107.1 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 106.7 | 106.5 |
| 2022 | 105.2 | 109.2 |
| 2023 | 101.6 | 104.8 |
| 2024 | 101.0 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Denver, CO
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 122.8 | 112.5 |
| 2009 | 120.0 | 114.0 |
| 2010 | 123.1 | 112.9 |
| 2011 | 131.1 | 113.4 |
| 2012 | 127.5 | 116.9 |
| 2013 | 128.7 | 116.1 |
| 2014 | 134.3 | 118.4 |
| 2015 | 141.6 | 123.1 |
| 2016 | 147.2 | 123.9 |
| 2017 | 148.2 | 129.7 |
| 2018 | 148.3 | 132.1 |
| 2019 | 147.3 | 131.2 |
| 2020 | 152.6 | 129.3 |
| 2021 | 146.2 | 127.8 |
| 2022 | 145.6 | 128.4 |
| 2023 | 146.1 | 124.8 |
| 2024 | 146.9 | 125.1 |
Utilities
- Denver, CO
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 79.3 | 90.4 |
| 2009 | 78.9 | 94.2 |
| 2010 | 81.9 | 87.3 |
| 2011 | 90.8 | 93.7 |
| 2012 | 81.7 | 98.8 |
| 2013 | 79.5 | 90.6 |
| 2014 | 98.6 | 97.5 |
| 2015 | 87.2 | 105.0 |
| 2016 | 88.6 | 98.0 |
| 2017 | 85.1 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 88.7 | 92.4 |
| 2019 | 93.2 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.0 | 95.8 |
| 2021 | 92.6 | 97.4 |
| 2022 | 95.2 | 91.5 |
| 2023 | 95.9 | 90.9 |
| 2024 | 87.9 | 107.0 |
Other services
- Denver, CO
- Portland, OR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.3 | 100.1 |
| 2009 | 100.2 | 99.4 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2012 | 101.9 | 102.7 |
| 2013 | 101.2 | 102.5 |
| 2014 | 99.8 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 102.1 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 96.9 |
| 2017 | 98.3 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 95.1 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 95.5 | 101.7 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 101.9 | 99.0 |
| 2022 | 100.0 | 104.3 |
| 2023 | 99.3 | 103.9 |
| 2024 | 99.4 | 100.1 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,803 in Portland vs $1,900 in Denver
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Denver, CO
- Portland, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Portland, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,273 | $1,124 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,321 | $1,169 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,333 | $1,211 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,336 | $1,209 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,357 | $1,232 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,386 | $1,269 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,384 | $1,277 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,369 | $1,267 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,405 | $1,299 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,445 | $1,330 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,450 | $1,335 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,442 | $1,316 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,469 | $1,328 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,499 | $1,362 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,502 | $1,370 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,500 | $1,363 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,525 | $1,380 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,557 | $1,407 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,556 | $1,423 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,555 | $1,410 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,571 | $1,425 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,559 | $1,428 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,573 | $1,454 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,553 | $1,434 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,585 | $1,463 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,674 | $1,540 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,757 | $1,599 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,758 | $1,608 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,806 | $1,633 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,871 | $1,700 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,877 | $1,729 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,844 | $1,703 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,878 | $1,722 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,917 | $1,724 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,924 | $1,719 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,892 | $1,686 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,920 | $1,711 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,953 | $1,757 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,946 | $1,767 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,879 | $1,741 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,892 | $1,752 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,925 | $1,781 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,899 | $1,783 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,849 | $1,757 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,865 | $1,767 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,899 | $1,789 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,900 | $1,803 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $539,000 in Portland vs $555,000 in Denver
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Denver, CO
- Portland, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Denver, CO | Portland, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $299K | $292K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $310K | $299K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $320K | $309K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $329K | $321K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $339K | $333K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $348K | $345K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $354K | $352K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $362K | $360K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $372K | $370K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $380K | $377K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $382K | $381K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $389K | $384K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $398K | $392K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $405K | $397K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $410K | $399K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $413K | $400K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $419K | $404K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $422K | $406K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $424K | $406K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $429K | $411K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $438K | $421K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $442K | $424K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $448K | $430K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $466K | $451K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $487K | $473K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $518K | $497K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $534K | $510K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $546K | $521K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $580K | $546K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $609K | $568K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $596K | $554K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $581K | $541K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $571K | $531K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $571K | $536K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $579K | $542K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $581K | $542K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $581K | $543K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $582K | $545K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $583K | $546K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $585K | $550K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $580K | $550K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $569K | $543K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $565K | $540K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $567K | $544K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $562K | $543K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $554K | $538K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $555K | $539K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.