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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The real cost of living can't be reduced to a single number. But this comes close: 0 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshol…
#1 Ranked: Gresham — cost index 93, rent $1,594/mo, income $73,608
0 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K
0 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The real cost of living can't be reduced to a single number. But this comes close: 0 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. Over thirty years of homeownership, the property tax savings alone are staggering (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And generally speaking, on a $60K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 5 cities in Oregon using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Gresham comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
At $1,594/month — for better or worse — for rent and a cost index of 93, Gresham is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $73,608. You get the picture.
Before celebrating, check the next metric: Here's the state-level backdrop: Oregon averages a 102 cost index, $1,752/mo — make of that what you will — rent, and $80,269 income across 5 cities. That's $143 less than the national rent average. It lines up with what you'd expect. Portland premium contrasting with inland bargains — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
Bottom line: Gresham leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
110,685 residents · Oregon
At $1,594/month for rent and a cost index of 93, Gresham is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $73,608. That alone makes it worth considering (which, to be fair, is a metric that favors smaller cities).
177,432 residents · Oregon
The #2 spot goes to Salem, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,600/month — we had to double-check this one — — saving renters $3,540 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 93, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 99. A 27% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone (that's pre-tax, of course).
630,498 residents · Oregon
So, Portland. Cost index of 100, rent at $1,710/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $88,792, which is above average. It's fine. Not great, not bad.
107,730 residents · Oregon
What does daily life actually cost in Hillsboro? Start with the 22% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. It lines up with what you'd expect. On the category level, Healthcare (index 102) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 109) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $103,207 and homes at $516,726 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons.
177,899 residents · Oregon
What does daily life actually cost in Eugene? Start with the 37% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Healthcare (index 103) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 116) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $63,836 — we had to double-check this one — and homes at $467,032 round out a profile that ranks #5 for clear reasons.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Gresham | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $41,217 |
2Salem | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $41,217 |
3Portland | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $41,217 |
4Hillsboro | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $41,217 |
5Eugene | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $41,217 |
Gresham ranks #1 in Oregon for this analysis with a cost index of 93 and median income of $73,608.
Yes. On a $60K salary in Gresham, rent would consume about 32% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Gresham (ranked #1) has a cost index of 93 and rent of $1,594/mo, while Eugene (ranked #5) has a cost index of 116 and rent of $1,988/mo — a 23-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Gresham is $1,594/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $301 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 9.9% state income tax, estimated take-home on $60K in Gresham is approximately $41,217/year ($3,435/month). After median rent of $1,594/month, you'd have roughly $22,089/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Gresham is $463,410, which is 6.3× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Oregon has a 9.9% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 0%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.87%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.