Cost of Living Comparison Between Portland, OR and Seattle, WA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Seattle, WA is 15.7% higher than in Portland, OR (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Seattle, WA is 19.3% higher than in Portland, OR | |
| Rent Prices in Seattle, WA are 26.3% higher than in Portland, OR | |
| Restaurant Prices in Seattle, WA are 18.4% higher than in Portland, OR | |
| Groceries Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.3% higher than in Portland, OR | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Seattle, WA is 12.7% higher than in Portland, OR | |
Restaurants | Portland, OR Edit |
Seattle, WA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 21.00 $ | 25.00 $ | +19.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 87.50 $ | 105.00 $ | +20.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 12.00 $ | 15.00 $ | +25.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 7.00 $ | 7.00 $ | 0.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 6.00 $ | 8.00 $ | +33.3 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.78 $ | 6.19 $ | +7.0 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.47 $ | 2.98 $ | +20.4 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 1.96 $ | 2.71 $ | +38.6 % |
Markets | Portland, OR Edit |
Seattle, WA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 1.08 $ | 1.50 $ | +39.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.93 $ | 4.84 $ | +23.2 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 1.99 $ | 2.25 $ | +13.4 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 6.15 $ | 7.37 $ | +19.9 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 7.30 $ | 9.47 $ | +29.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 6.56 $ | 7.48 $ | +14.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 10.04 $ | 9.83 $ | -2.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.36 $ | 2.71 $ | +14.6 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.89 $ | 0.99 $ | +11.7 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.29 $ | 2.30 $ | +0.4 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 3.01 $ | 2.96 $ | -1.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.30 $ | 1.56 $ | +19.9 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 0.94 $ | 1.55 $ | +65.2 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 2.68 $ | 2.97 $ | +11.1 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.50 $ | 2.62 $ | +4.7 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 15.99 $ | 16.00 $ | +0.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 2.90 $ | 3.45 $ | +18.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 5.13 $ | 4.83 $ | -5.8 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 11.16 $ | 12.13 $ | +8.7 % |
Transportation | Portland, OR Edit |
Seattle, WA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 2.80 $ | 3.00 $ | +7.1 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 100.00 $ | 100.00 $ | 0.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 5.00 $ | 2.60 $ | -48.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 3.03 $ | 2.70 $ | -10.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 24.00 $ | 30.00 $ | +25.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.06 $ | 1.22 $ | +15.1 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 33,680.68 $ | 36,318.00 $ | +7.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 24,666.25 $ | 25,823.01 $ | +4.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Portland, OR Edit |
Seattle, WA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 228.81 $ | 275.61 $ | +20.5 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 71.14 $ | 68.24 $ | -4.1 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 68.00 $ | 79.27 $ | +16.6 % |
Sports And Leisure | Portland, OR Edit |
Seattle, WA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 42.91 $ | 88.78 $ | +106.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 34.12 $ | 37.73 $ | +10.6 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 13.50 $ | 18.00 $ | +33.3 % |
Childcare | Portland, OR Edit |
Seattle, WA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,851.17 $ | 2,570.32 $ | +38.8 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 27,580.62 $ | 29,069.69 $ | +5.4 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Portland, OR Edit |
Seattle, WA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 65.48 $ | 70.29 $ | +7.3 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 45.77 $ | 53.29 $ | +16.4 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 105.36 $ | 127.65 $ | +21.2 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 135.83 $ | 149.73 $ | +10.2 % |
Rent Per Month | Portland, OR Edit |
Seattle, WA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,063.32 $ | 2,464.32 $ | +19.4 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,638.41 $ | 1,984.53 $ | +21.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 3,700.00 $ | 4,680.00 $ | +26.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,643.18 $ | 3,562.50 $ | +34.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Portland, OR Edit |
Seattle, WA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 374.08 $ | 683.42 $ | +82.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 306.08 $ | 476.07 $ | +55.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | Portland, OR Edit |
Seattle, WA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 4,893.30 $ | 6,580.60 $ | +34.5 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.33 | 6.58 | +3.9 % |
| Last update: | 12 February 2026 | 9 February 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 99 | 181 | |
Moving to Portland, OR? Explore:
Moving to Seattle, WA? Explore:
Cities near Portland, OR: | Cost of Living in Vancouver, Washington | 8.97 miles |
| Cost of Living in Olympia, Washington | 113.75 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tacoma, Washington | 142.96 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bremerton, Washington | 170.77 miles |
| Cost of Living in Seattle, Washington | 174.54 miles |
| Cost of Living in Walla Walla, Washington | 242.09 miles |
Cities near Seattle, WA: | Cost of Living in Tacoma, Washington | 35.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in Olympia, Washington | 63.39 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bremerton, Washington | 66.37 miles |
| Cost of Living in Vancouver, Washington | 166.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Portland, Oregon | 176.13 miles |