Kent vs Portland
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Kent
Portland
💡 The Verdict
Kent is 10% cheaper than Portland overall. A $75,000 salary in Kent is equivalent to $83,333 in Portland.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Kent (left) vs Portland (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Kent versus Portland. Differences shown from Kent perspective.
| Item | Kent | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,280/mo | $1,250/mo | +$30.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,720/mo | $1,800/mo | $-80.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $2,340/mo | $2,360/mo | $-20.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.27 | $2.94 | +$0.33 |
| Milk (gallon) | $4.00 | $4.04 | $-0.04 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.66 | $3.41 | +$0.25 |
| Coffee (latte) | $6.28 | $5.89 | +$0.39 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.73 | $3.71 | +$0.02 |
| Restaurant Meal | $17.57 | $20.61 | $-3.04 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Kent has the same purchasing power as $83,333 in Portland.
Conversely, $75,000 in Portland equals $67,500 in Kent.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $6000 difference is driven by Oregon having a higher state income tax rate. Washington details → · Oregon details →
Reading These Numbers: Kent (117) vs Portland (130)
Kent at 117 is 17% above the US average, while Portland at 130 is 30% above average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Kent, the composite index of 117 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 127, followed by groceries (112), utilities (111), transportation (118), and healthcare (124). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,720/mo in Kent and $1,800/mo in Portland, the annual rent difference is approximately $960.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $4,800.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $109,000.0 difference in median home prices between Kent 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: Kent vs Portland
Choosing between Kent 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.
The cost gap between Kent and Portland reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.