What is the cost of living in St. Helens, OR?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. Helens has an overall cost of living index of 114, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Oregon, St. Helens has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Oregon's index of 109.
The standard of living in St. Helens ranks as #37 most affordable out of the 100 places we measured in Oregon. By definition, that implies St. Helens ranks as the #63 most expensive place in the Beaver State.
For more reading on life in St. Helens, check out:
St. Helens Cost Of Living Vs. Oregon
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in St. Helens. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in St. Helens is 111.
The Groceries index in St. Helens is 109.
The Health index in St. Helens is 121.
The Housing index in St. Helens is 116.
The Transportation index in St. Helens is 107.
The Utilities index in St. Helens is 107.
| Living Expense | St. Helens | Oregon | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 114 | 109 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 106 | 100 |
| Health | 121 | 125 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 105 | 100 |
St. Helens 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 St. Helens Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
St. Helens, 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 St. Helens is $425,039.
The Median Rent in St. Helens is $1,413.
The Median Income in St. Helens is $82,865.
The Home Value To Income in St. Helens is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. Helens is 0.2x.
| Statistic | St. Helens | Oregon | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $425,039 | $499,003 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,413 | $1,525 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $82,865 | $83,011 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 6.0x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
St. Helens, OR Costs By Category
Detailed St. Helens Services costs vs. Oregon
| Item | St. Helens | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.53 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.98 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.31 | $18 |
| Haircut | $41.22 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $60.58 | $45.56 |
Detailed St. Helens Groceries costs vs. Oregon
| Item | St. Helens | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.17 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.03 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.04 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.39 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.21 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $12.07 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.63 | $3.7 |
Detailed St. Helens Health costs vs. Oregon
| Item | St. Helens | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $131.94 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $188.49 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.08 | $113.29 |
Detailed St. Helens Transportation costs vs. Oregon
| Item | St. Helens | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.16 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $84.45 | $59.92 |
Detailed St. Helens Utilities costs vs. Oregon
| Item | St. Helens | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.73 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.36 | $192.25 |
St. Helens SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around St. Helens
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around St. Helens. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Vancouver, WA has a cost of living index of 128, 1.1x St. Helens.
Orchards, WA has a cost of living index of 128, 1.1x St. Helens.
Hazel Dell, WA has a cost of living index of 123, 1.1x St. Helens.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. Helens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, WA | 195,300 | 128 | 1.1x |
| Orchards, WA | 29,438 | 128 | 1.1x |
| Hazel Dell, WA | 23,237 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Battle Ground, WA | 21,886 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Five Corners, WA | 21,194 | 127 | 1.1x |
| Ridgefield, WA | 13,408 | 141 | 1.2x |
| Kelso, WA | 12,684 | 107 | 0.9x |
| Felida, WA | 10,841 | 149 | 1.3x |
| Mount Vista, WA | 10,764 | 138 | 1.2x |
| Columbia, PA | 10,278 | 93 | 0.8x |
