CostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Salem, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
OR
Salem
103.6
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Gainesville is moderately cheaper than Salem — 7.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $85,700 in Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+18.6%
Gainesville
93
Salem
110.3
🛒 Groceries+9.5%
Gainesville
96.2
Salem
105.3
🚗 Transportation+1.4%
Gainesville
103.8
Salem
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Gainesville
93.9
Salem
95.3
Utilities+18.7%
Gainesville
88.2
Salem
104.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Salem, OR
$85,700
$5,700 more needed in Salem

Formula: salary × (103.6 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 1.0714. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Salem, OR

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

Salem has 18.6% higher housing costs compared to Gainesville.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

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).

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.