Duluth vs Portland
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Duluth
Portland
💡 The Verdict
Duluth is 17% cheaper than Portland overall. A $75,000 salary in Duluth is equivalent to $90,278 in Portland.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Duluth (left) vs Portland (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Duluth versus Portland. Differences shown from Duluth perspective.
| Item | Duluth | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,030/mo | $1,250/mo | $-220.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,310/mo | $1,800/mo | $-490.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,650/mo | $2,360/mo | $-710.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.00 | $2.94 | +$0.06 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.94 | $4.04 | $-0.10 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.46 | $3.41 | +$0.05 |
| Coffee (latte) | $6.36 | $5.89 | +$0.47 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.83 | $3.71 | +$0.12 |
| Restaurant Meal | $16.00 | $20.61 | $-4.61 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $90,278 in Portland.
Conversely, $75,000 in Portland equals $62,308 in Duluth.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $899 difference is driven by Oregon having a higher state income tax rate. Minnesota details → · Oregon details →
Reading These Numbers: Duluth (108) vs Portland (130)
Duluth at 108 is 8% above the US average, while Portland at 130 is 30% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Duluth, the composite index of 108 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 101, followed by groceries (109), utilities (101), transportation (110), and healthcare (112). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,310/mo in Duluth and $1,800/mo in Portland, the annual rent difference is approximately $5,880.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $29,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $111,000.0 difference in median home prices between Duluth and Portland translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Duluth vs Portland
Choosing between Duluth and Portland involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
Long-term affordability in Duluth versus Portland depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.