City Comparison

Brooklyn vs Hillsboro

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Brooklyn

New York
195
Very Expensive
$780,000
Median Home
$2,900/mo
Median Rent
$65,294
Median Income

Hillsboro

Oregon
128
Expensive
$533,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$106,700
Median Income

The Verdict

52.3%

Living in Hillsboro costs 52.3% less than Brooklyn. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Brooklyn, you would need $49,231 in Hillsboro.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
325
Brooklyn
175
Hillsboro
Groceries
108
Brooklyn
108
Hillsboro
Utilities
135
Brooklyn
96
Hillsboro
Transportation
108
Brooklyn
126
Hillsboro
Healthcare
108
Brooklyn
103
Hillsboro

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has the same purchasing power as $49,231 in Hillsboro.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hillsboro equals $114,258 in Brooklyn.

Living in Brooklyn vs Hillsboro

Housing Costs

Brooklyn's housing index of 325 is higher Hillsboro's 175, translating to median home prices of $780,000 vs $533,000. The $247,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,056 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,900/mo in Brooklyn compared to $1,725/mo in Hillsboro, a monthly difference of $1,175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 108 in Brooklyn and 108 in Hillsboro. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Brooklyn vs $513/month in Hillsboro. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Brooklyn and 96 in Hillsboro. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Brooklyn vs $384 in Hillsboro. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 108 in Brooklyn and 103 in Hillsboro. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $65,294 in Brooklyn and $106,700 in Hillsboro. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $33,484 and $83,359 respectively. Hillsboro residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,524/month to housing in Brooklyn vs $2,490/month in Hillsboro. In Brooklyn, median rent of $2,900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 150 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hillsboro is 52.3% more affordable overall with an index of 128 vs 195.
A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $49,231 in Hillsboro, based on the cost of living difference.
Brooklyn's housing index is 325 with median homes at $780,000, while Hillsboro's is 175 with median homes at $533,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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