CostIndexUSA

Medford, OR vs Portland, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableOR
Medford
101.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
OR
Portland
105.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Medford is slightly cheaper than Portland — 3.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Medford, you would need $83,200 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+28.0%
Medford
97.7
Portland
125.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Medford
105.3
Portland
105.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Medford
105.3
Portland
105.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Medford
95.3
Portland
95.1
Utilities+4.6%
Medford
102.3
Portland
107

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, OR
$83,200
$3,200 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (105.4 ÷ 101.4) = salary × 1.0394. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Medford, OR

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.8×

Portland, OR

Median Home Price
$536,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
125.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Portland has 28.0% higher housing costs compared to Medford.

Income & Job Market

Medford, OR

Median Household Income
$71,700
Per Capita Income
$40,900
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
85,824
Top Industries
HealthcareAgricultureRetailManufacturingTourism

Portland, OR

Median Household Income
$94,900
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
652,503
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

Affordability at a Glance

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

Medford, OR
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Portland, OR
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.