Cost of Living Comparison Between Portland, OR and Santa Clarita, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Portland, OR and Santa Clarita, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,928 per month in Portland, OR vs $3,757 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,420 per month in Portland, OR vs $5,054 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,912 per month in Portland, OR vs $6,351 in Santa Clarita, CA, rent included.

Portland, OR is about 22% cheaper than Santa Clarita, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Portland, OR and Santa Clarita, CA sit above the global median – Portland, OR by 118%, Santa Clarita, CA by 180%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.23 $20.23

$18.43 $18.43

9.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.1 $90.1

$84.8 $84.8

6.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.24 $12.24

$15.28 $15.28

-19.90%

Cappuccino

$4.76 $4.76

$6.05 $6.05

-21.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.08 $3.08

-17.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.43 $2.43

-21.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.84 $6.84

$9.13 $9.13

-25.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 $5.90

$9.09 $9.09

-35.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.26 $1.26

-15.87%

White Bread (500g)

$4.16 $4.16

$3.93 $3.93

5.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.85 $4.85

-9.90%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$5.51 $5.51

-17.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.41 $15.41

$23.18 $23.18

-33.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$10.56 $10.56

7.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.07 $15.07

$17.17 $17.17

-12.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.65 $6.65

-22.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.03 $2.03

-1.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.65 $3.65

21.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.03 $3.03

70.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$10.18 $10.18

-70.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$4.28 $4.28

-52.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 $2.37

$3.09 $3.09

-23.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.96 $2.96

-24.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.06 $11.06

$13.08 $13.08

-15.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$14.78 $14.78

3.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.70 $1.70

31.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.94 $3.94

14.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.55 $2.55

8.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.1 $98.1

$27.29 $27.29

259.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 $3.72

$6.14 $6.14

-39.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.07 $2.07

-5.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.65 $36.65

$51.2 $51.2

-28.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.21 $1.21

-14.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.7K $33.7K

$19.7K $19.7K

71.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.1K $26.1K

-1.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$223 $223

$234 $234

-4.80%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$61.4 $61.4

13.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 $64.1

$77.0 $77.0

-16.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.46 $39.46

$36.86 $36.86

7.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.7 $53.7

$25.02 $25.02

114.55%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 $12.77

$12.46 $12.46

2.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$1,427 $1,427

23.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K $18.8K

$36.6K $36.6K

-48.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$70.7 $70.7

-9.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.02 $47.02

$15.29 $15.29

207.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$50.5 $50.5

105.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$144 $144

-20.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,871 $1,871

$2,957 $2,957

-36.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,525 $1,525

$2,227 $2,227

-31.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,450 $3,450

$3,825 $3,825

-9.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,581 $2,581

$3,165 $3,165

-18.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,963 $3,963

$3,714 $3,714

6.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,317 $3,317

$4,249 $4,249

-21.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,024 $5,024

$5,251 $5,251

-4.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.41

6.68

-4.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Portland, OR: May 31, 2026

Last update for Santa Clarita, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,871 in Portland, OR versus $2,957 in Santa Clarita, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 5% higher in Santa Clarita, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Portland, OR versus $85.0 in Santa Clarita, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $417 in Portland, OR vs $475 in Santa Clarita, CA – so Portland, OR wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Santa Clarita, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,928 in Portland, OR, $3,757 in Santa Clarita, CA – roughly 28% apart. Santa Clarita, CA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,391 per month in Portland, OR and $5,635 in Santa Clarita, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Portland, OR, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,928 in Portland, OR and $3,757 in Santa Clarita, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 259% less in Portland, OR. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,928 in Portland, OR and $3,757 in Santa Clarita, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Santa Clarita, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,928 in Portland, OR to $3,757 in Santa Clarita, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Portland, OR. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Clarita, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.