The Dalles, OR Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In The Dalles, OR Summary

Cost of living in The Dalles 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 The Dalles 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 The Dalles is 109, with 100 being the average.

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

  • The Dalles ranks as the #29 cheapest in Oregon out of 99.

  • The Dalles ranks as the #3,556 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in The Dalles is $390,272.

  • The median income in The Dalles is $62,830.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
109
The Dalles's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in The Dalles, OR?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, The Dalles has an overall cost of living index of 109, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Oregon, The Dalles has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Oregon's index of 112.

The standard of living in The Dalles ranks as #29 most affordable out of the 99 places we measured in Oregon. By definition, that implies The Dalles ranks as the #70 most expensive place in the Beaver State.

For more reading on life in The Dalles, check out:

29 out of 99
In Oregon
3,556 out of 6,489
In America

The Dalles Cost Of Living Vs. Oregon

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

  • The Services index in The Dalles is 107.

  • The Groceries index in The Dalles is 112.

  • The Health index in The Dalles is 112.

  • The Housing index in The Dalles is 110.

  • The Transportation index in The Dalles is 127.

  • The Utilities index in The Dalles is 96.

Living Expense The Dalles Oregon National Average
Overall 109 112 100
Services 107 107 100
Groceries 112 107 100
Health 112 104 100
Housing 110 124 100
Transportation 127 116 100
Utilities 96 97 100
For more reading on cost of living around Oregon, check out:
The Dalles Cost of Living Vs. OR

The Dalles, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in The Dalles is $390,272.

  • The Median Rent in The Dalles is $956.

  • The Median Income in The Dalles is $62,830.

  • The Home Value To Income in The Dalles is 6.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in The Dalles is 0.18x.

Statistic The Dalles Oregon United States
Median Home Value $390,272 $496,180 $303,400
Median Rent $956 $1,450 $1,348
Median Income $62,830 $80,426 $78,538
Home Value To Income 6.2x 6.2x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.22x 0.21x
$390,272
Median Home Value
$956
Median Rent
$62,830
Median Income

The Dalles, OR Costs By Category

Detailed The Dalles Services Costs Vs. Oregon

Item The Dalles 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 The Dalles Groceries Costs Vs. Oregon

Item The Dalles 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 The Dalles Health Costs Vs. Oregon

Item The Dalles Oregon
Optometrist $131.94 $125.68
Doctor $188.49 $135.78
Dentist $115.08 $113.29

Detailed The Dalles Transportation Costs Vs. Oregon

Item The Dalles Oregon
Gasoline $4.16 $3.46
Tire Balancing $84.45 $59.92

Detailed The Dalles Utilities Costs Vs. Oregon

Item The Dalles Oregon
All Electricity $182.73 $193.99
Phone $190.36 $192.25

The Dalles SnackAbility

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

Cost Of Living In Cities Around The Dalles

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

  • Hood River, OR has a cost of living index of 131, 1.2x The Dalles.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. The Dalles
Hood River, OR 8,360 131 1.2x

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