Oregon vs Arizona: cost of living compared

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

Is it cheaper to live in Oregon or Arizona?

  • Overall, Arizona is 2.6% less expensive than Oregon (BEA, 2024).
  • To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Oregon works out to about $73,100 in Arizona, before taxes.
  • Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 9.4% lower and other services 2.5% higher in Arizona, while housing is 1.7% lower.
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $52,890 in Arizona and $55,451 in Oregon (4.6% lower in Arizona; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
  • Inside each state, metro price levels run from 89.2 in Sierra Vista, AZ to 103.3 in Phoenix, AZ (Arizona) and from 97.8 in Grants Pass, OR to 105.4 in Portland, OR (Oregon), US = 100.
  • The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Arizona was 5.8% less expensive than Oregon.

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.

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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 Oregon and Arizona

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

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

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

Show the numbers
OregonArizona
All items103.4100.7
Goods105.395.4
Housing (rents)108.6106.8
Utilities107.092.3
Other services100.3102.8
CategoryOregonArizonaArizona vs Oregon
All items103.4100.7−2.6%
Goods105.395.4−9.4%
Housing (rents)108.6106.8−1.7%
Utilities107.092.3−13.8%
Other services100.3102.8+2.5%
Income per person, adjusted for prices $55,451 $52,890 −4.6%
Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* $5.56 $5.56 0.0%
Salary to match $75,000 in Oregon $75,000 $73,100 −2.6%

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 Oregon figure). *West Coast region average (EIA has no separate Arizona 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 Oregon and Arizona has narrowed since 2008: 4.7 points then, 2.7 now

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

  • Oregon
  • Arizona
US average = 100

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

Show the numbers
OregonArizona
200897.8102.5
2009100.3102.9
201099.4100.6
201199.899.1
2012101.198.1
2013100.298.4
201499.797.9
2015101.197.9
201699.698.6
2017101.597.9
2018104.797.4
2019103.897.8
2020103.299.2
2021103.296.6
2022106.6100.0
2023104.8100.7
2024103.4100.7

Goods

  • Oregon
  • Arizona
US = 100

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

Show the numbers
OregonArizona
200895.3103.0
2009101.6106.4
201099.7100.1
201199.899.0
2012100.398.3
201398.597.6
201499.097.7
201599.198.5
2016100.497.8
2017100.297.2
2018104.695.9
2019104.596.0
2020104.6100.1
2021106.595.1
2022109.198.1
2023104.897.9
2024105.395.4

Housing (rents)

  • Oregon
  • Arizona
US = 100

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

Show the numbers
OregonArizona
200898.5103.3
2009101.599.9
2010101.396.9
2011100.494.8
2012103.395.2
2013101.793.6
2014103.092.7
2015105.493.8
2016106.592.4
2017110.293.5
2018111.094.3
2019110.293.6
2020110.097.9
2021109.2102.3
2022110.4106.2
2023109.2108.6
2024108.6106.8

Utilities

  • Oregon
  • Arizona
US = 100

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

Show the numbers
OregonArizona
200884.296.4
200988.096.3
201086.4104.3
201192.6104.3
201295.0100.5
201389.599.0
201495.3100.3
201599.4101.0
201696.097.5
201794.599.0
201892.599.8
201995.592.6
202095.690.0
202197.087.8
202290.887.2
202391.083.3
2024107.092.3

Other services

  • Oregon
  • Arizona
US = 100

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

Show the numbers
OregonArizona
2008100.5102.3
200999.8102.1
201099.5102.1
2011100.0100.5
2012101.498.8
2013101.6100.9
201499.499.9
2015101.298.7
201697.1101.5
2017100.099.9
2018103.499.4
2019101.8100.8
2020100.499.7
202199.196.4
2022104.5100.1
2023104.2101.2
2024100.3102.8

What incomes buy in each state

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

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

  • Oregon
  • Arizona
  • United States

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

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