Washington vs Oregon

Side-by-side cost of living, income, housing and population. Calculator, charts and shareable results — official Census data.

Population, income, rent, home value and age for 2026. Shareable URL updates automatically.

Keep Your Standard — How Much There?

If you earn — in State A, what do you need in State B?

Need in State B
—
Difference
—
Verdict
—
Best Value — Most Affordable States
MS
Mississippi
~$52k income, $748 rent
Cheapest
WV
West Virginia
~$57k, $658 rent
Cheapest
AR
Arkansas
~$58k, $765 rent
Cheapest
AL
Alabama
~$62k, $846 rent
Cheapest

Lowest median home & rent, adjusted for income.

Population
Income & Housing
MetricWashingtonOregonDifference (A−B)
Population
All residents
 7,740,984 HIGHER 4,238,714 +3,502,270 (+82.6%)
Higher: Washington
Median Income
Household
 $94,952 HIGHER $80,426 +$14,526 (+18.1%)
Higher: Washington
Median Rent
Gross rent
 $1,682 HIGHER $1,450 +$232 (+16%)
Higher: Washington
Median Home Value
Owner-occupied
 $519,800 HIGHER $454,200 +$65,600 (+14.4%)
Higher: Washington
Median Age
Years
 38.2 40.1 HIGHER 2 (-4.7%)
Higher: Oregon
Living in Washington: tech giants, no income tax, Seattle prices

Washington hosts Amazon, Microsoft, aerospace and a deep startup bench, paying some of the highest tech salaries anywhere, with no state income tax on top. Seattle anchors the economy; Spokane and Tacoma offer cheaper footholds.

Seattle housing now competes with California, and the lack of income tax is partly offset by high sales and property taxes. The gray winters divide opinion. Washington works spectacularly for tech workers and remote earners — and expensively for service workers in the metro.

Full Washington profile →
Living in Oregon: no sales tax, Portland premiums, rain

Oregon blends Nike and apparel, Intel and semiconductors, timber and a Portland service economy with genuine cultural pull. There is no statewide sales tax, which residents notice daily.

Portland-area housing has become expensive, and the state income tax bites upper-middle earners to fund services. Rural Oregon stays cheap. The state fits tech and creative workers who accept the tax-for-amenities trade and do not mind gray winters.

Full Oregon profile →
Verdict: Washington vs Oregon
  • Washington earns more (median $94,952 vs $80,426).
  • Oregon rents cheaper (median $1,450 vs $1,682).
  • Oregon buys cheaper (median home $454,200 vs $519,800).
  • Oregon takes it 2-1 across income, rent and home prices.
  • The widest gap is Income: Washington at $94,952 vs Oregon at $80,426.
View Washington → View Oregon →

Frequently asked questions

What data does this page show?

Compare cost of living, salaries, housing, rent, taxes and population between Washington and Oregon. Calculator, charts and side-by-side table — official Census data.

Washington or Oregon — which is cheaper?

Compare housing, rent, taxes and pay row by row in the table above.

What matters most when moving?

Housing cost first, then take-home pay after taxes, then rent and daily costs.

How current are the figures?

All figures reflect 2026 and update automatically from official sources.

Where do the numbers come from?

All figures are compiled from official U.S. government public data and refreshed automatically. LifeIndexData is 100% free to use and fully independent: we are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or compensated by any bank, lender or financial institution, and advertising never influences our data or rankings.

How do I cite this page?

LifeIndexData. "Washington vs Oregon — Cost of Living Comparison (2026)" (2026). https://lifeindexdata.com/usa/compare/washington/oregon/

Is this financial advice?

No. All data is informational only — see our Disclaimer before making decisions.