Salem, OR Cost of Living


37 Reviews



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Salem cost of living score
104
More expensive
4.0% higher
than the US average
9.0% lower
than the Oregon average
Salem, Oregon gets a BestPlaces Cost of Living score of 104, which means the total cost of housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities is 4.0% higher than the U.S. average and 9.0% higher than the average for Oregon.

Salem, OR

Housing costs in Salem?
A typical home costs $399,000, which is 18.0% more expensive than the national average of $338,100 and 14.8% less expensive than the average Oregon home, at $468,400. Renting a two-bedroom unit in Salem costs $1,270 per month, which is 11.2% cheaper than the national average of $1,430 and 19.7% cheaper than the state average of $1,520.

Can I afford Salem?
To live comfortably in Salem, Oregon, a minimum annual income of $76,320 for a family, and $40,000 for a single person is recommended.

What does A.I. say about Salem?
The cost of living in Salem, OR is higher than the US average cost of living. In fact, Salem's cost of living is 102.4 - which is 2.4 points higher than the US average score of 100. This can be attributed to the high median house value in Salem ($399000) compared to the national median home value which stands at $338,100. Despite the higher cost of living, many citizens in Salem continue to find comfort and joy from residing in this wonderful city.
   Cost of living score
     CategoriesSalemOregonUnited States
  104.0114.3100.0
  100.3100.4100
  92.894.6100.0
  121.5150.2100.0
  $399,000$468,400$338,100
  79.3%81.0%100.0%
  96.1107.1100.0
  103.6108.2100.0

   100=National Average

   Average Rent by Bedroom Size
Reviews for Salem
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After reading the reviews here, I had to come write my own. The problem I had with most of the reviews is that most were very opinion-based and seemed to assume everyone  More

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Moved here approx. 4 years ago from SW Michigan, but I've lived in 9 other cities & 5 other states. Salem is a very manageable sized city, with tons of parks, diverse  More

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Over 4 years ago

I'm a native 5th generation Oregonian, so bear in mind that I was born with webs between my toes! Anyway, I used to think it rained too much when I was young. Then I  More

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