CostIndexUSA

Lexington, KY vs Portland, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableKY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
OR
Portland
105.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Lexington is moderately cheaper than Portland — 13.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lexington, you would need $90,800 in Portland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+62.3%
Lexington
77.1
Portland
125.1
🛒 Groceries+9.4%
Lexington
96.2
Portland
105.2
🚗 Transportation+3.3%
Lexington
101.7
Portland
105.1
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Lexington
92
Portland
95.1
Utilities+43.4%
Lexington
74.6
Portland
107

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, OR
$90,800
$10,800 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (105.4 ÷ 92.9) = salary × 1.1346. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Portland, OR

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

Portland has 62.3% higher housing costs compared to Lexington.

Income & Job Market

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

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).

Lexington, KY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.