Portland, OR vs Seattle, WA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Seattle, WA is 5.4% more expensive than Portland, OR (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Portland works out to about $79,100 in Seattle, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 20.9% more in Seattle. Goods are 1.2% lower and other services 6.7% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,250 a month in Seattle and $1,803 in Portland, $5,364 a year more in Seattle (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $720,000 in Seattle and $539,000 in Portland.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (5.7%).
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.
Housing drives the gap: 20.9% higher in Seattle than in Portland
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, WA
All items Portland, OR: 105.4 Seattle, WA: 111.1
Goods Portland, OR: 105.2 Seattle, WA: 104.0
Housing (rents) Portland, OR: 125.1 Seattle, WA: 151.3
Utilities Portland, OR: 107.0 Seattle, WA: 92.8
Other services Portland, OR: 100.1 Seattle, WA: 106.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Seattle, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.4 | 111.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 104.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 125.1 | 151.3 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 92.8 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 106.8 |
| Category | Portland | Seattle | Seattle vs Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.4 | 111.1 | +5.4% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 104.0 | −1.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 125.1 | 151.3 | +20.9% |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 92.8 | −13.2% |
| Other services | 100.1 | 106.8 | +6.7% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,803 | $2,250 | +24.8% |
| Typical home value | $539,000 | $720,000 | +33.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Portland | $75,000 | $79,100 | +5.4% |
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 Portland and Seattle has narrowed since 2008: 10.4 points then, 5.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, WA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Seattle, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.7 | 109.1 |
| 2009 | 102.3 | 108.5 |
| 2010 | 101.6 | 106.4 |
| 2011 | 101.9 | 106.1 |
| 2012 | 104.3 | 105.3 |
| 2013 | 103.0 | 105.2 |
| 2014 | 102.1 | 107.5 |
| 2015 | 103.7 | 107.9 |
| 2016 | 101.5 | 110.2 |
| 2017 | 103.8 | 112.1 |
| 2018 | 107.3 | 110.5 |
| 2019 | 106.4 | 112.5 |
| 2020 | 105.8 | 113.0 |
| 2021 | 105.4 | 114.5 |
| 2022 | 108.8 | 114.0 |
| 2023 | 106.7 | 112.7 |
| 2024 | 105.4 | 111.1 |
Goods
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Seattle, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.5 | 108.3 |
| 2009 | 102.2 | 106.6 |
| 2010 | 100.3 | 105.3 |
| 2011 | 100.7 | 106.1 |
| 2012 | 102.0 | 101.1 |
| 2013 | 99.6 | 102.8 |
| 2014 | 100.2 | 104.6 |
| 2015 | 98.4 | 105.8 |
| 2016 | 100.3 | 104.4 |
| 2017 | 100.1 | 108.4 |
| 2018 | 104.6 | 105.2 |
| 2019 | 104.5 | 107.5 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 111.9 |
| 2021 | 106.5 | 115.5 |
| 2022 | 109.2 | 116.4 |
| 2023 | 104.8 | 108.1 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 104.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Seattle, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 112.5 | 139.2 |
| 2009 | 114.0 | 137.6 |
| 2010 | 112.9 | 136.3 |
| 2011 | 113.4 | 136.6 |
| 2012 | 116.9 | 134.2 |
| 2013 | 116.1 | 135.1 |
| 2014 | 118.4 | 140.4 |
| 2015 | 123.1 | 144.0 |
| 2016 | 123.9 | 149.2 |
| 2017 | 129.7 | 156.7 |
| 2018 | 132.1 | 159.2 |
| 2019 | 131.2 | 161.6 |
| 2020 | 129.3 | 156.6 |
| 2021 | 127.8 | 153.0 |
| 2022 | 128.4 | 154.7 |
| 2023 | 124.8 | 151.6 |
| 2024 | 125.1 | 151.3 |
Utilities
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Seattle, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.4 | 85.1 |
| 2009 | 94.2 | 87.0 |
| 2010 | 87.3 | 87.4 |
| 2011 | 93.7 | 90.1 |
| 2012 | 98.8 | 93.9 |
| 2013 | 90.6 | 99.8 |
| 2014 | 97.5 | 97.1 |
| 2015 | 105.0 | 103.7 |
| 2016 | 98.0 | 99.4 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 100.0 |
| 2018 | 92.4 | 102.8 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 106.3 |
| 2020 | 95.8 | 105.6 |
| 2021 | 97.4 | 94.3 |
| 2022 | 91.5 | 87.0 |
| 2023 | 90.9 | 85.3 |
| 2024 | 107.0 | 92.8 |
Other services
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, WA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Seattle, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.1 | 103.6 |
| 2009 | 99.4 | 103.3 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 100.7 |
| 2011 | 99.8 | 99.6 |
| 2012 | 102.7 | 101.7 |
| 2013 | 102.5 | 100.0 |
| 2014 | 99.3 | 102.2 |
| 2015 | 102.1 | 101.4 |
| 2016 | 96.9 | 105.2 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 105.0 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 101.7 | 104.9 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 103.1 |
| 2021 | 99.0 | 105.8 |
| 2022 | 104.3 | 104.9 |
| 2023 | 103.9 | 107.6 |
| 2024 | 100.1 | 106.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,250 in Seattle vs $1,803 in Portland
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, WA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Seattle, WA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,124 | $1,347 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,169 | $1,384 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,211 | $1,415 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,209 | $1,407 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,232 | $1,443 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,269 | $1,503 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,277 | $1,519 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,267 | $1,507 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,299 | $1,561 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,330 | $1,618 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,335 | $1,632 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,316 | $1,604 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,328 | $1,633 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,362 | $1,681 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,370 | $1,681 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,363 | $1,664 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,380 | $1,696 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,407 | $1,742 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,423 | $1,753 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,410 | $1,743 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,425 | $1,785 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,428 | $1,775 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,454 | $1,761 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,434 | $1,684 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,463 | $1,722 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,540 | $1,830 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,599 | $1,936 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,608 | $1,933 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,633 | $1,979 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,700 | $2,065 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,729 | $2,089 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,703 | $2,020 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,722 | $2,046 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,724 | $2,084 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,719 | $2,098 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,686 | $2,061 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,711 | $2,101 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,757 | $2,153 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,767 | $2,159 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,741 | $2,128 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,752 | $2,165 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,781 | $2,209 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,783 | $2,210 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,757 | $2,183 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,767 | $2,198 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,789 | $2,238 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,803 | $2,250 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $720,000 in Seattle vs $539,000 in Portland
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, WA
- 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
| Portland, OR | Seattle, WA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $292K | $336K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $299K | $344K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $309K | $352K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $321K | $365K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $333K | $379K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $345K | $389K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $352K | $396K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $360K | $407K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $370K | $423K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $377K | $438K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $381K | $449K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $384K | $460K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $392K | $479K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $397K | $495K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $399K | $501K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $400K | $498K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $404K | $498K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $406K | $501K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $406K | $501K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $411K | $508K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $421K | $521K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $424K | $532K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $430K | $542K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $451K | $571K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $473K | $600K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $497K | $640K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $510K | $656K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $521K | $668K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $546K | $721K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $568K | $763K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $554K | $728K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $541K | $706K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $531K | $690K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $536K | $691K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $542K | $705K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $542K | $712K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $543K | $720K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $545K | $734K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $546K | $738K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $550K | $749K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $550K | $751K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $543K | $736K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $540K | $732K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $544K | $739K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $543K | $737K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $538K | $723K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $539K | $720K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Portland, OR
- Cost of living in Seattle, WA
- Reverse: moving from Seattle to Portland
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.