City Comparison

Gresham vs Richmond

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gresham

Oregon
128
Expensive
$459,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

Richmond

Virginia
103
Average
$300,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$50,120
Median Income

The Verdict

24.3%

Living in Richmond costs 24.3% less than Gresham. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gresham, you would need $60,352 in Richmond.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
172
Gresham
108
Richmond
Groceries
101
Gresham
100
Richmond
Utilities
96
Gresham
97
Richmond
Transportation
126
Gresham
100
Richmond
Healthcare
103
Gresham
100
Richmond

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gresham has the same purchasing power as $60,352 in Richmond.

Conversely, $75,000 in Richmond equals $93,204 in Gresham.

Living in Gresham vs Richmond

Housing Costs

Gresham's housing index of 172 is higher Richmond's 108, translating to median home prices of $459,000 vs $300,000. The $159,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,332 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Gresham compared to $1,400/mo in Richmond, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Gresham and 100 in Richmond. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Gresham vs $475/month in Richmond. 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 96 in Gresham and 97 in Richmond. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gresham vs $388 in Richmond. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Gresham and 100 in Richmond. 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 $69,600 in Gresham and $50,120 in Richmond. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $48,660 respectively. Gresham residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,624/month to housing in Gresham vs $1,169/month in Richmond. In Gresham, median rent of $1,450/mo fits within this budget. In Richmond, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 64 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Richmond is 24.3% more affordable overall with an index of 103 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $60,352 in Richmond, based on the cost of living difference.
Gresham's housing index is 172 with median homes at $459,000, while Richmond's is 108 with median homes at $300,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases