City comparison
Portland, OR vs Springfield, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, OR are 9.7% higher than in Springfield, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MA would need about $109,700 in Portland, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,677 a month in Portland, OR versus $1,382 in Springfield, MA. On $100,000, that's 28% of take-home pay in Portland, OR and 22% in Springfield, MA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,140 a year higher in Portland, OR than in Springfield, MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.7% moving from Portland, OR to Springfield, MA ($114,684 → $120,094), while prices change by −8.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +14.9% in real buying power.
- Portland, OR: price level 105.4 (pricier)
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Portland, OR | Springfield, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 96.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,121 in Springfield | $109,744 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,677/mo | $1,382/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 28% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,690 | $51,930 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA and Springfield, MA MSA. Metro areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA and Springfield, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 75.8 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 96.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, OR → Springfield, MA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.7%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$3,140/yr.
99 Strong offer
Springfield, MA → Portland, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.9%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$3,140/yr.
36 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Portland, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Springfield, MA is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, OR to Springfield, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, OR | Springfield, MA | Real change, Portland → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $69,642 | +14.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $84,260 | +14.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $100,992 | +14.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $120,094 | +14.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $141,915 | +14.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, OR | Springfield, MA | Springfield pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,330 | $79,640 | $87,400 (+6.2%) |
| Software Developers | $156,000 | $127,740 | $140,187 (−10.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,200 | $92,010 | $100,975 (+9.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $130,310 | $98,410 | $107,999 (−17.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.