City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Salem, OR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Salem, OR are 2.0% higher than in Eugene, OR. Someone earning $100,000 in Eugene, OR would need about $102,000 in Salem, OR to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $1,201 in Salem, OR. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 20% in Salem, OR.
- Both are in OR, so estimated state income tax is the same: $7,920 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +7.7% moving from Eugene, OR to Salem, OR ($106,437 → $114,684), while prices change by +2.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.6% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- Salem, OR: price level 103.6 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | Salem, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 103.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,049 in Salem | $97,992 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,201/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $71,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $7,920 (OR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $55,310 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Salem, OR MSA. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Salem, OR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 110.3 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 105.3 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 104.7 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 103.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Salem, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.0%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
62 Fair offer
Salem, OR → Eugene, OR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.0%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
75 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Salem, OR is in Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Salem, OR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Salem, OR | Real change, Eugene → Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $66,505 | +5.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $80,465 | +5.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $96,443 | +5.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $114,684 | +5.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $135,522 | +5.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Salem, OR | Salem pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $74,810 | $73,308 (+14.1%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $131,620 | $128,977 (+6.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $87,480 | $85,724 (+7.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $131,750 | $129,105 (+13.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.