CostIndexUSA

Corvallis, OR vs Salem, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostOR
Corvallis
104
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
OR
Salem
103.6
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Corvallis and Salem have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing3.6%
Corvallis
114.4
Salem
110.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Corvallis
105.3
Salem
105.3
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Corvallis
105.3
Salem
105.3
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Corvallis
95.3
Salem
95.3
Utilities3.6%
Corvallis
108.6
Salem
104.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Salem, OR
$79,700
$300 less needed in Salem

Formula: salary × (103.6 ÷ 104) = salary × 0.9962. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Corvallis, OR

Median Home Price
$542,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
114.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.2×

Salem, OR

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
110.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.0×

Corvallis has 3.6% lower housing costs compared to Salem.

Income & Job Market

Corvallis, OR

Median Household Income
$73,000
Per Capita Income
$41,600
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
58,641
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

Salem, OR

Median Household Income
$74,600
Per Capita Income
$42,500
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
174,365
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Corvallis, OR
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

68% of income left after rent (median)

Salem, OR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.