CostIndexUSA

Portland, OR vs Saginaw, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OR
Portland
105.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Saginaw is moderately cheaper than Portland — 13.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Portland, you would need $69,000 in Saginaw. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing49.2%
Portland
125.1
Saginaw
63.6
🛒 Groceries10.9%
Portland
105.2
Saginaw
93.7
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Portland
105.1
Saginaw
104.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Portland
95.1
Saginaw
94.6
Utilities10.5%
Portland
107
Saginaw
95.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Saginaw, MI
$69,000
$11,000 less needed in Saginaw

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 105.4) = salary × 0.8624. 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×

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Portland has 49.2% lower housing costs compared to Saginaw.

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

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

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)

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.