Portland, OR at a glance
Median household income
$90,919$7,577 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Portland, OR? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,570 | $18,840 | $62,800 | 20.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,677 | $20,124 | $67,080 | 22.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,922 | $23,064 | $76,880 | 25.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,619 | $31,428 | $104,760 | 34.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,109 | $37,308 | $124,360 | 41% |
What a typical income covers in Portland, OR
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $90,919 a year ($7,577 a month before tax).
What $90,919 leaves after Oregon taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Oregon tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Oregon
Living in Portland, OR: common questions
What is the median household income in Portland, OR?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Portland, OR is $90,919 per year (approximately $7,577 per month).
What is the average rent in Portland, OR?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,570 for a studio, $1,677 for one bedroom, $1,922 for two, $2,619 for three and $3,109 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Portland, OR expensive to live in?
Prices there run 5.4% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 105.4, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Portland, OR?
To keep a $1,922 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $76,880 a year, or $6,407 a month. That is 85% of what the typical household in Portland, OR earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Portland, OR?
On the local median income of $90,919 ($7,577 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,788 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,273 for everything else and $1,515 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,922 takes 51% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Portland, OR?
Homes in Oregon paid 16.3¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $147. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.