Salem, OR Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Salem, OR Summary

Cost of living in Salem research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Salem is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Oregon, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Salem is 112, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Salem is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Salem ranks as the #45 cheapest in Oregon out of 98.

  • Salem ranks as the #4,296 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Salem is $289,500.

  • The median income in Salem is $62,185.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
112
Salem's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Salem, OR?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Salem has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Oregon, Salem has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Oregon's index of 116.

The standard of living in Salem ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in Oregon. By definition, that implies Salem ranks as the #53 most expensive place in the Beaver State.

For more reading on life in Salem, check out:

45 out of 98
In Oregon
4,296 out of 6,412
In America

Salem Cost Of Living Vs. Oregon

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salem. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Salem is 120.

  • The Groceries index in Salem is 112.

  • The Health index in Salem is 117.

  • The Housing index in Salem is 96.

  • The Transportation index in Salem is 129.

  • The Utilities index in Salem is 87.

Living Expense Salem Oregon National Average
Overall 112 116 100
Services 120 106 100
Groceries 112 107 100
Health 117 103 100
Housing 96 140 100
Transportation 129 117 100
Utilities 87 97 100
For more reading on cost of living around Oregon, check out:
Salem Cost of Living Vs. OR

Salem, OR Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Oregon, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Salem is $289,500.

  • The Median Rent in Salem is $1,125.

  • The Median Income in Salem is $62,185.

  • The Home Value To Income in Salem is 4.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Salem is 0.22x.

Statistic Salem Oregon United States
Median Home Value $289,500 $362,200 $244,900
Median Rent $1,125 $1,250 $1,163
Median Income $62,185 $70,084 $69,021
Home Value To Income 4.7x 5.2x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.21x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Salem, OR
$289,500
Median Home Value
$1,125
Median Rent
$62,185
Median Income

Salem, OR Costs By Category

Detailed Salem Services Costs Vs. Oregon

Item Salem Oregon
Shampoo $1.23 $1.06
Movie $11.1 $10.68
Bowling $19.95 $14.67
Haircut $33.67 $18.62
Beauty Salon $56.44 $39.05

Detailed Salem Groceries Costs Vs. Oregon

Item Salem Oregon
Ground Beef $4.74 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.58 $1.39
Milk $2.12 $2.05
Potatoes $2.34 $3.29
Pizza $11.99 $10.62
Beer $11.24 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.65 $2.34

Detailed Salem Health Costs Vs. Oregon

Item Salem Oregon
Optometrist $146.25 $108.57
Doctor $168.67 $116.17
Dentist $101.75 $99.13

Detailed Salem Transportation Costs Vs. Oregon

Item Salem Oregon
Gasoline $2.78 $2.22
Tire Balancing $68.4 $50.07

Detailed Salem Utilities Costs Vs. Oregon

Item Salem Oregon
All Electricity $143.85 $167.67
Phone $170.53 $175.64

Salem SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
5
Diversity
8.5
Safety
4
Amenities
9.5
Education
7
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Salem

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Salem. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Keizer, OR has a cost of living index of 114, 1.0x Salem.

  • Woodburn, OR has a cost of living index of 107, 1.0x Salem.

  • Hayesville, OR has a cost of living index of 104, 0.9x Salem.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Salem
Keizer, OR 39,119 114 1.0x
Woodburn, OR 25,877 107 1.0x
Hayesville, OR 21,887 104 0.9x
Dallas, OR 16,663 110 1.0x
Four Corners, OR 16,608 107 1.0x
Monmouth, OR 10,735 111 1.0x
Silverton, OR 10,402 116 1.0x
Independence, OR 9,850 107 1.0x
Stayton, OR 8,199 112 1.0x

Articles About Oregon

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