Portland vs Roswell
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Portland
Roswell
The Verdict
Living in Roswell costs 3.5% less than Portland. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Portland, you would need $72,436 in Roswell.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Portland has the same purchasing power as $72,436 in Roswell.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $77,655 in Portland.
Living in Portland vs Roswell
Housing Costs
Portland's housing index of 137 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $647,000. The $252,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,380 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,700/mo in Portland compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $0.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 107 in Portland and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Portland vs $480/month in Roswell. Roswell offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 111 in Portland and 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $444 in Portland vs $392 in Roswell. 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 110 in Portland and 103 in Roswell. 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 $56,895 in Portland and $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,628 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,328/month to housing in Portland vs $2,539/month in Roswell. In Portland, median rent of $1,700/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 50 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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