2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Portland, OR vs Olympia, WA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Olympia or is it cheaper to live in Portland?
- Olympia is 12.2% less expensive than Portland.

Which city has more affordable housing, Olympia or Portland?
- Olympia housing costs are 15.6% less expensive than Portland housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Portland or is Health Care more affordable in Olympia.
- Health related expenses are 3.9% less in Olympia.
 Portland, OROlympia, WAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock112.1100
 Food & Groceries103.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock87.1100
 Housing184.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$472,500$338,100
 Utilities80  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock91.1100
 Miscellaneous140.1  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Portland    386 Reviews

I lived in Portland for 19 years (I've also lived in Boise, ID, the Bay Area, Austin, TX and now Nampa, ID). It drives me nuts when people try to give a large city a  More

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One of the best cities in America. Food scene is the best in the world. Weather is preferable over places where you have the same weather year round. I enjoy the  More

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I moved from Houston to Portland about a year ago. I remember reading the reviews on here and it making me second guess moving before I did, so I wanted to come back and  More

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Reviews for Olympia    39 Reviews

We moved here from Kitsap Bremerton/Silverdale WA area and this beats it all the way in all material ways. The only reason not to give it 5 stars is the cost of  More

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Over 4 years ago

The city is horrible. The business have been chased out by homeless. The city government makes it for difficult for businesses to thrive. If you like what Seattle is  More

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Having lived all over the world we decided to retire in Olympia and live on the Puget Sound. Yes it rains but the weather can change dramatically in a day with sun and  More

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