๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,002 in Portland, OR versus $2,770 in Plano, TX.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,368 in Portland, OR versus $4,302 in Plano, TX.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,733 in Portland, OR versus $5,835 in Plano, TX.
๐Living in Portland, OR is roughly 8% more expensive than Plano, TX, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Portland, OR124% above, Plano, TX107% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Portland, OR
Plano, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.38$20.38
$17.67$17.67
15.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2$91.2
$74.3$74.3
22.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.20$12.20
$10.14$10.14
20.32%
Cappuccino
$4.87$4.87
$4.71$4.71
3.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46$2.46
$2.48$2.48
-0.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88$1.88
$1.97$1.97
-4.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.95$6.95
$5.98$5.98
16.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92$5.92
$6.87$6.87
-13.83%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Portland, OR
Plano, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08$1.08
$1.00$1.00
8.00%
White Bread(500g)
$4.18$4.18
$2.98$2.98
40.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.34$4.34
$5.02$5.02
-13.55%
Eggs
$4.70$4.70
$4.17$4.17
12.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.21$15.21
$13.22$13.22
15.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.50$11.50
$13.95$13.95
-17.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.15$15.15
$17.20$17.20
-11.92%
Apples(1kg)
$5.27$5.27
$6.22$6.22
-15.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06$2.06
$1.41$1.41
46.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.53$4.53
$4.42$4.42
2.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.91$4.91
$4.03$4.03
21.84%
Potato(1kg)
$3.00$3.00
$3.63$3.63
-17.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07$2.07
$3.03$3.03
-31.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.28$2.28
$2.05$2.05
11.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25$2.25
$2.36$2.36
-4.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.14$11.14
$9.95$9.95
11.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.16$15.16
$15.26$15.26
-0.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30$2.30
$1.69$1.69
36.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56$4.56
$3.34$3.34
36.53%
๐ Getting Around
Portland, OR
Plano, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.77$2.77
$4.92$4.92
-43.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$101$101
$105$105
-3.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.77$3.77
$3.07$3.07
22.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.94$1.94
$1.71$1.71
13.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.65$35.65
$23.54$23.54
51.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$0.74$0.74
37.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K$33.6K
$34.3K$34.3K
-2.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K$25.3K
$28.6K$28.6K
-11.45%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portland, OR
Plano, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217$217
$190$190
14.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.3$68.3
$45.43$45.43
50.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.6$63.6
$63.2$63.2
0.70%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Portland, OR
Plano, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.96$38.96
$81.3$81.3
-52.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.7$53.7
$50.4$50.4
6.57%
Cinema Ticket
$13.12$13.12
$13.00$13.00
0.92%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Portland, OR
Plano, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,781$1,781
$1,160$1,160
53.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.1K$19.1K
$17.7K$17.7K
8.17%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Portland, OR
Plano, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0$63.0
$54.5$54.5
15.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.37$47.37
$37.87$37.87
25.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106$106
$101$101
4.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115$115
$130$130
-11.91%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Portland, OR
Plano, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,827$1,827
$1,608$1,608
13.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,559$1,559
$1,339$1,339
16.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,359$3,359
$2,985$2,985
12.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,649$2,649
$2,746$2,746
-3.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,929$3,929
$2,332$2,332
68.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,391$3,391
$2,394$2,394
41.60%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Portland, OR
Plano, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,795$4,795
$5,670$5,670
-15.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.41
6.36
0.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Portland, OR: April 21, 2026
Last update for Plano, TX: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,827 in Portland, OR and $1,608 in Plano, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐPlano, TX pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $91 in Portland, OR vs $74 in Plano, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $414 per month, with Plano, TX cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Portland, OR vs Plano, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plano, TX cheaper than Portland, OR?
Plano, TX is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Portland, OR or Plano, TX?
On paper, Plano, TX earns 18% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Portland, OR and Plano, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,827 in Portland, OR versus $1,608 in Plano, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,781 in Portland, OR versus $1,160 in Plano, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Portland, OR and Plano, TX?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Portland, OR. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Portland, OR or Plano, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Plano, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Portland, OR or Plano, TX?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Plano, TX gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 8% less than in Portland, OR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Portland, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared