City comparison
Portland, OR vs Richmond, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, OR are 7.7% higher than in Richmond, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Richmond, VA would need about $107,700 in Portland, OR to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,677 a month in Portland, OR versus $1,507 in Richmond, VA. On $100,000, that's 28% of take-home pay in Portland, OR and 24% in Richmond, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,984 a year higher in Portland, OR than in Richmond, VA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.1% moving from Portland, OR to Richmond, VA ($114,684 → $111,183), while prices change by −7.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.4% in real buying power.
- Portland, OR: price level 105.4 (pricier)
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Portland, OR | Richmond, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 97.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,826 in Richmond | $107,729 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,677/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 28% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,690 | $51,460 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Richmond, VA |
Rent areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA and Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA and Richmond, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 99.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 89.2 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 97.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, OR → Richmond, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$2,984/yr.
93 Strong offer
Richmond, VA → Portland, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.2%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$2,984/yr.
41 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Portland, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Richmond, VA is in Richmond, VA. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, OR to Richmond, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, OR | Richmond, VA | Real change, Portland → Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $64,475 | +4.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $78,009 | +4.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $93,499 | +4.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $111,183 | +4.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $131,385 | +4.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, OR | Richmond, VA | Richmond pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,330 | $61,290 | $66,027 (−19.8%) |
| Software Developers | $156,000 | $132,120 | $142,331 (−8.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,200 | $84,220 | $90,729 (−1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $130,310 | $93,580 | $100,812 (−22.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.