Median rent is 16% lower in Portland ($1,655/mo vs $1,978/mo). Buying is cheaper in Hillsboro, where the median home runs $521,100 versus $581,500. Households earn more in Hillsboro ($106,409 vs $90,919 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (101.5).
City A
Hillsboro, OR
City B
Portland, OR
How much would you need to earn in Portland, OR to maintain your standard of living from Hillsboro, OR?
Equivalent salary in Portland, OR
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Hillsboro
Oregon
Portland
Oregon
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Portland at $1,655/mo compared to $1,978/mo in Hillsboro (16% gap). Median home values are within 10% of each other: $521,100 in Hillsboro and $581,500 in Portland.
Metric
Hillsboro
Portland
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Hillsboro
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Portland
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Portland (avg AQI 26.0) but not yet for Hillsboro.
Pick Hillsboro if you prioritize higher median household income ($106,409/yr).
Pick Portland if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,655/mo median).
Hillsboro is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 101.5 versus 101.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Hillsboro.
Median rent is $1,978/mo in Hillsboro, OR and $1,655/mo in Portland, OR. Portland, OR has the lower rent by about 16%.
Median household income is $106,409 in Hillsboro, OR and $90,919 in Portland, OR. Hillsboro, OR has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Hillsboro, OR is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Portland, OR (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
