City comparison
Portland, OR vs Salem, OR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, OR are 1.7% higher than in Salem, OR. Someone earning $100,000 in Salem, OR would need about $101,700 in Portland, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,677 a month in Portland, OR versus $1,201 in Salem, OR. On $100,000, that's 28% of take-home pay in Portland, OR and 20% in Salem, OR.
- Both are in OR, so estimated state income tax is the same: $7,920 a year on $100,000.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $114,684 in either. A transfer from Portland, OR to Salem, OR changes real buying power by +1.7%, purely from prices.
- Portland, OR: price level 105.4 (pricier)
- Salem, OR: price level 103.6 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Portland, OR | Salem, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 103.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,319 in Salem | $101,710 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,677/mo | $1,201/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $71,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $7,920 (OR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 28% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,690 | $55,310 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA |
Rent areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA and Salem, OR MSA. Metro areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA and Salem, OR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 110.3 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.3 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 104.7 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 103.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, OR → Salem, OR
Roughly even
Buying power +1.7%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
74 Strong offer
Salem, OR → Portland, OR
Roughly even
Buying power −1.7%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, OR to Salem, OR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, OR | Salem, OR | Real change, Portland → Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $66,505 | +1.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $80,465 | +1.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $96,443 | +1.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $114,684 | +1.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $135,522 | +1.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, OR | Salem, OR | Salem pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,330 | $74,810 | $76,089 (−7.6%) |
| Software Developers | $156,000 | $131,620 | $133,870 (−14.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,200 | $87,480 | $88,976 (−3.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $130,310 | $131,750 | $134,002 (+2.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.