Question 1

Is Detroit or Portland cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, MI is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $363/month less than in Portland, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,411/mo in Detroit versus $1,922/mo in Portland.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Detroit vs Portland?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $78,500/year before tax in Detroit, MI and $89,000/year in Portland, OR — a difference of about $10,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Detroit or Portland cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $9,052/month in Detroit and $10,916/month in Portland, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Detroit or Portland?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Detroit costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Detroit58	Portland59
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,078	$4,441
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,052	$10,916
Salary for comfort	$78,500/yr	$89,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,411	$1,922
Median home value	$76,800	$557,600
Median household income	$39,575	$88,792
Unemployment	10.7%	5.2%
Housing score	61	36
Jobs score	36	30
Safety score	18	53
Climate score	79	93
Amenities score	82	79
Population	636.6K	642.7K
Summer high / winter low	83° / 20°	81° / 36°

Detroit, MI vs Portland, OR