CostIndexUSA

Portland, OR vs Riverside, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableOR
Portland
105.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
CA
Riverside
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Portland is slightly cheaper than Riverside — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+3.4%
Portland
125.1
Riverside
129.3
🛒 Groceries3.6%
Portland
105.2
Riverside
101.4
🚗 Transportation+1.1%
Portland
105.1
Riverside
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.2%
Portland
95.1
Riverside
96.2
Utilities+38.9%
Portland
107
Riverside
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Riverside, CA
$80,800
$800 more needed in Riverside

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 105.4) = salary × 1.0095. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Portland, OR

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

Riverside, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Riverside has 3.4% higher housing costs compared to Portland.

Income & Job Market

Portland, OR

Median Household Income
$94,900
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
652,503
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

Riverside, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
314,998
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingEducationRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Portland, OR
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Riverside, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.