Question 1

Is New York or Portland cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Portland, OR is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $1,090/month less than in New York, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $2,910/mo in New York versus $1,922/mo in Portland.

Question 2

What salary do you need in New York vs Portland?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $115,500/year before tax in New York, NY and $89,000/year in Portland, OR — a difference of about $26,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is New York or Portland cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Portland, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $11,966/month in New York and $10,916/month in Portland, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to New York or Portland?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Portland 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	New York44	Portland59
Est. monthly cost (single)	$5,531	$4,441
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$11,966	$10,916
Salary for comfort	$115,500/yr	$89,000/yr
Typical rent	$2,910	$1,922
Median home value	$751,700	$557,600
Median household income	$79,713	$88,792
Unemployment	5.2%	5.2%
Housing score	3	36
Jobs score	43	30
Safety score	47	53
Climate score	99	93
Amenities score	40	79
Population	8.5M	642.7K
Summer high / winter low	84° / 27°	81° / 36°

New York, NY vs Portland, OR