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 109.
The standard of living in The Dalles ranks as #25 most affordable out of the 100 places we measured in Oregon. By definition, that implies The Dalles ranks as the #75 most expensive place in the Beaver State.
For more reading on life in The Dalles, check out:
The Dalles Cost Of Living Vs. Oregon
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in The Dalles. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in The Dalles is 103.
The Groceries index in The Dalles is 109.
The Health index in The Dalles is 111.
The Housing index in The Dalles is 107.
The Transportation index in The Dalles is 108.
The Utilities index in The Dalles is 108.
| Living Expense | The Dalles | Oregon | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 109 | 109 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 106 | 100 |
| Health | 111 | 125 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 105 | 100 |
The Dalles 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 The Dalles Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in The Dalles is $389,438.
The Median Rent in The Dalles is $993.
The Median Income in The Dalles is $62,614.
The Home Value To Income in The Dalles is 6.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in The Dalles is 0.19x.
| Statistic | The Dalles | Oregon | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $389,438 | $499,003 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $993 | $1,525 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,614 | $83,011 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.2x | 6.0x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
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
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 134, 1.2x The Dalles.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. The Dalles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hood River, OR | 8,361 | 134 | 1.2x |








