CostIndexUSA

Mount Vernon, WA vs Portland, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWA
Mount Vernon
102.4
overall index
$2,125/mo rent
OR
Portland
105.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Mount Vernon is slightly cheaper than Portland — 2.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Mount Vernon, you would need $82,300 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+15.6%
Mount Vernon
108.2
Portland
125.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Mount Vernon
105
Portland
105.2
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
Mount Vernon
104.4
Portland
105.1
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Mount Vernon
94.5
Portland
95.1
Utilities+11.5%
Mount Vernon
96
Portland
107

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, OR
$82,300
$2,300 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (105.4 ÷ 102.4) = salary × 1.0293. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,125
Housing Index
108.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.2×

Portland, OR

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

Portland has 15.6% higher housing costs compared to Mount Vernon.

Income & Job Market

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Household Income
$91,200
Per Capita Income
$52,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
36,727
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

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).

Mount Vernon, WA
3.6×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.