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 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Oregon, Salem has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Oregon's index of 109.
The standard of living in Salem ranks as #42 most affordable out of the 100 places we measured in Oregon. By definition, that implies Salem ranks as the #58 most expensive place in the Beaver State.
For more reading on life in Salem, check out:
Salem Cost Of Living Vs. Oregon
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salem. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Salem is 105.
The Groceries index in Salem is 108.
The Health index in Salem is 134.
The Housing index in Salem is 103.
The Transportation index in Salem is 111.
The Utilities index in Salem is 105.
| Living Expense | Salem | Oregon | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 116 | 109 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 106 | 100 |
| Health | 134 | 125 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 105 | 100 |
Salem Cost Of Living Compared To Oregon Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Oregon, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Salem Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Salem is $436,317.
The Median Rent in Salem is $1,400.
The Median Income in Salem is $75,487.
The Home Value To Income in Salem is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Salem is 0.22x.
Salem, OR Costs By Category
Detailed Salem Services costs vs. Oregon
Detailed Salem Groceries costs vs. Oregon
Detailed Salem Health costs vs. Oregon
Detailed Salem Transportation costs vs. Oregon
Salem SnackAbility
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 118, 1.0x Salem.
Woodburn, OR has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Salem.
Hayesville, OR has a cost of living index of 109, 0.9x Salem.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keizer, OR | 39,082 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Woodburn, OR | 27,875 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Hayesville, OR | 21,246 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Dallas, OR | 17,531 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Four Corners, OR | 16,275 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Monmouth, OR | 11,428 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Silverton, OR | 10,456 | 120 | 1.0x |
| Independence, OR | 10,199 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Stayton, OR | 8,292 | 115 | 1.0x |
