Portland, OR vs Washington, DC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Washington, DC is 3.3% more expensive than Portland, OR (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Portland works out to about $77,500 in Washington, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 20.8% more in Washington. Goods are 0.4% lower and other services 2.2% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,407 a month in Washington and $1,803 in Portland, $7,248 a year more in Washington (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $570,000 in Washington and $539,000 in Portland.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (3.1%).
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: 20.8% higher in Washington than in Portland
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Portland, OR
- Washington, DC
All items Portland, OR: 105.4 Washington, DC: 108.9
Goods Portland, OR: 105.2 Washington, DC: 104.8
Housing (rents) Portland, OR: 125.1 Washington, DC: 151.1
Utilities Portland, OR: 107.0 Washington, DC: 106.7
Other services Portland, OR: 100.1 Washington, DC: 102.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.4 | 108.9 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 104.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 125.1 | 151.1 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 102.3 |
| Category | Portland | Washington | Washington vs Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.4 | 108.9 | +3.3% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 104.8 | −0.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 125.1 | 151.1 | +20.8% |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 106.7 | −0.3% |
| Other services | 100.1 | 102.3 | +2.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,803 | $2,407 | +33.5% |
| Typical home value | $539,000 | $570,000 | +5.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Portland | $75,000 | $77,500 | +3.3% |
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 Portland and Washington has narrowed since 2008: 16.0 points then, 3.5 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Portland, OR
- Washington, DC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.7 | 114.8 |
| 2009 | 102.3 | 115.0 |
| 2010 | 101.6 | 114.6 |
| 2011 | 101.9 | 113.5 |
| 2012 | 104.3 | 111.7 |
| 2013 | 103.0 | 113.9 |
| 2014 | 102.1 | 113.7 |
| 2015 | 103.7 | 113.7 |
| 2016 | 101.5 | 112.1 |
| 2017 | 103.8 | 109.8 |
| 2018 | 107.3 | 111.2 |
| 2019 | 106.4 | 109.8 |
| 2020 | 105.8 | 111.4 |
| 2021 | 105.4 | 111.6 |
| 2022 | 108.8 | 111.2 |
| 2023 | 106.7 | 109.5 |
| 2024 | 105.4 | 108.9 |
Goods
- Portland, OR
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.5 | 111.6 |
| 2009 | 102.2 | 112.6 |
| 2010 | 100.3 | 108.5 |
| 2011 | 100.7 | 106.5 |
| 2012 | 102.0 | 104.9 |
| 2013 | 99.6 | 108.9 |
| 2014 | 100.2 | 104.0 |
| 2015 | 98.4 | 104.0 |
| 2016 | 100.3 | 104.2 |
| 2017 | 100.1 | 103.1 |
| 2018 | 104.6 | 105.2 |
| 2019 | 104.5 | 104.1 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.8 |
| 2021 | 106.5 | 108.5 |
| 2022 | 109.2 | 106.9 |
| 2023 | 104.8 | 106.4 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 104.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Portland, OR
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 112.5 | 168.2 |
| 2009 | 114.0 | 168.9 |
| 2010 | 112.9 | 171.2 |
| 2011 | 113.4 | 173.2 |
| 2012 | 116.9 | 172.3 |
| 2013 | 116.1 | 176.2 |
| 2014 | 118.4 | 175.2 |
| 2015 | 123.1 | 171.4 |
| 2016 | 123.9 | 170.9 |
| 2017 | 129.7 | 166.2 |
| 2018 | 132.1 | 169.0 |
| 2019 | 131.2 | 162.9 |
| 2020 | 129.3 | 165.1 |
| 2021 | 127.8 | 162.5 |
| 2022 | 128.4 | 157.1 |
| 2023 | 124.8 | 151.9 |
| 2024 | 125.1 | 151.1 |
Utilities
- Portland, OR
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.4 | 116.4 |
| 2009 | 94.2 | 120.6 |
| 2010 | 87.3 | 107.3 |
| 2011 | 93.7 | 105.8 |
| 2012 | 98.8 | 107.9 |
| 2013 | 90.6 | 107.4 |
| 2014 | 97.5 | 104.2 |
| 2015 | 105.0 | 108.0 |
| 2016 | 98.0 | 112.4 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 108.1 |
| 2018 | 92.4 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 102.8 |
| 2020 | 95.8 | 104.7 |
| 2021 | 97.4 | 108.3 |
| 2022 | 91.5 | 101.7 |
| 2023 | 90.9 | 105.7 |
| 2024 | 107.0 | 106.7 |
Other services
- Portland, OR
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, OR | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.1 | 105.5 |
| 2009 | 99.4 | 104.7 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 106.8 |
| 2011 | 99.8 | 106.1 |
| 2012 | 102.7 | 104.1 |
| 2013 | 102.5 | 104.7 |
| 2014 | 99.3 | 107.8 |
| 2015 | 102.1 | 108.3 |
| 2016 | 96.9 | 105.3 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 102.9 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 103.9 |
| 2019 | 101.7 | 102.6 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 103.9 |
| 2021 | 99.0 | 102.6 |
| 2022 | 104.3 | 104.4 |
| 2023 | 103.9 | 102.4 |
| 2024 | 100.1 | 102.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,407 in Washington vs $1,803 in Portland
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Portland, OR
- Washington, DC
- 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 | Washington, DC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,124 | $1,697 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,169 | $1,721 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,211 | $1,722 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,209 | $1,712 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,232 | $1,729 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,269 | $1,750 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,277 | $1,752 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,267 | $1,739 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,299 | $1,769 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,330 | $1,795 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,335 | $1,794 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,316 | $1,783 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,328 | $1,805 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,362 | $1,835 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,370 | $1,840 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,363 | $1,843 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,380 | $1,865 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,407 | $1,895 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,423 | $1,901 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,410 | $1,891 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,425 | $1,918 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,428 | $1,912 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,454 | $1,895 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,434 | $1,847 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,463 | $1,871 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,540 | $1,949 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,599 | $2,033 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,608 | $2,043 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,633 | $2,075 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,700 | $2,149 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,729 | $2,184 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,703 | $2,138 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,722 | $2,176 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,724 | $2,221 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,719 | $2,249 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,686 | $2,229 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,711 | $2,265 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,757 | $2,325 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,767 | $2,346 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,741 | $2,321 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,752 | $2,365 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,781 | $2,389 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,783 | $2,375 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,757 | $2,336 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,767 | $2,364 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,789 | $2,391 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,803 | $2,407 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $570,000 in Washington vs $539,000 in Portland
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Portland, OR
- Washington, DC
- 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 | Washington, DC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $292K | $372K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $299K | $373K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $309K | $375K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $321K | $379K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $333K | $382K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $345K | $382K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $352K | $383K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $360K | $388K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $370K | $393K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $377K | $396K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $381K | $397K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $384K | $402K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $392K | $407K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $397K | $409K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $399K | $413K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $400K | $415K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $404K | $420K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $406K | $424K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $406K | $425K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $411K | $430K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $421K | $438K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $424K | $442K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $430K | $448K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $451K | $465K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $473K | $481K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $497K | $500K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $510K | $505K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $521K | $507K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $546K | $525K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $568K | $543K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $554K | $535K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $541K | $530K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $531K | $529K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $536K | $537K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $542K | $545K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $542K | $547K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $543K | $552K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $545K | $561K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $546K | $564K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $550K | $570K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $550K | $573K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $543K | $570K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $540K | $569K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $544K | $571K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $543K | $571K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $538K | $568K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $539K | $570K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Portland, OR
- Cost of living in Washington, DC
- Reverse: moving from Washington 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.