Question 1

Is Portland or Seattle cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Portland, OR is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $350/month less than in Seattle, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,922/mo in Portland versus $2,501/mo in Seattle.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Portland vs Seattle?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $89,000/year before tax in Portland, OR and $86,000/year in Seattle, WA — a difference of about $3,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Portland or Seattle 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 $10,916/month in Portland and $12,749/month in Seattle, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Portland or Seattle?

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	Portland59	Seattle59
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,441	$4,791
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$10,916	$12,749
Salary for comfort	$89,000/yr	$86,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,922	$2,501
Median home value	$557,600	$912,100
Median household income	$88,792	$121,984
Unemployment	5.2%	4.7%
Housing score	36	34
Jobs score	30	35
Safety score	53	40
Climate score	93	92
Amenities score	79	90
Population	642.7K	741.4K
Summer high / winter low	81° / 36°	76° / 37°

Portland, OR vs Seattle, WA