CostIndexUSA

Bend, OR vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OR
Bend
103.6
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Portland is slightly cheaper than Bend — 1.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bend, you would need $78,700 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing4.4%
Bend
110
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries7.7%
Bend
105.3
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation+2.9%
Bend
105.3
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Bend
95.3
Portland
98
Utilities+28.2%
Bend
105
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bend to see what you'd need to earn in Portland to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$78,700
$1,300 less needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.9836. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bend, OR

Median Home Price
$653,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
110
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Portland, ME

Median Home Price
$516,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
105.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.5×

Bend has 4.4% lower housing costs compared to Portland.

Income & Job Market

Bend, OR

Median Household Income
$91,700
Per Capita Income
$52,300
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
102,059
Top Industries
TourismTechnologyHealthcareRetailConstruction

Portland, ME

Median Household Income
$92,100
Per Capita Income
$52,500
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Population
68,408
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationTourismFinanceTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bend, OR
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Portland, ME
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.