Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, OR and Rochester, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, OR and Rochester, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,705 in Salem, OR versus $2,830 in Rochester, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,924 in Salem, OR versus $4,078 in Rochester, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,143 in Salem, OR versus $5,327 in Rochester, MN.

Living in Salem, OR costs roughly 4% less than in Rochester, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Salem, OR 102% above, Rochester, MN 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.48 $17.48

$16.08 $16.08

8.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.4 $89.4

$74.9 $74.9

19.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 $10.17

$10.81 $10.81

-5.92%

Cappuccino

$4.44 $4.44

$6.24 $6.24

-28.85%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$2.64 $2.64

-1.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.24 $2.24

-12.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.68 $4.68

$4.88 $4.88

-4.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.21 $7.21

$7.02 $7.02

2.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.91 $0.91

20.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.53 $2.53

53.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.18 $2.18

72.02%

Eggs

$4.73 $4.73

$3.69 $3.69

28.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.06 $17.06

$12.50 $12.50

36.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.27 $13.27

$11.90 $11.90

11.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.34 $16.34

$16.21 $16.21

0.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.40 $4.40

-5.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.58 $1.58

-5.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$3.58 $3.58

1.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.60 $3.60

6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.06 $2.06

1.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.09 $3.09

-29.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.07 $3.07

-37.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.98 $2.98

-40.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.43 $10.43

$9.19 $9.19

13.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.20 $15.20

$15.02 $15.02

1.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.78 $1.78

-5.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.07 $3.07

-6.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.95 $1.95

-14.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.54 $40.54

$42.19 $42.19

-3.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.06 $2.06

70.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$2.21 $2.21

-42.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.61 $40.61

$20.32 $20.32

99.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.79 $0.79

25.32%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

10.85%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$24.4K $24.4K

3.54%

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

$280 $280

$124 $124

125.15%

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

$55.4 $55.4

$51.3 $51.3

8.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.6 $76.6

$59.6 $59.6

28.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 $54.6

$69.2 $69.2

-21.16%

Cinema Ticket

$13.08 $13.08

$12.10 $12.10

8.10%

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

$1,315 $1,315

$1,354 $1,354

-2.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$11.7K $11.7K

97.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 $46.73

$64.5 $64.5

-27.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$62.1 $62.1

-14.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$73.2 $73.2

16.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 $80.3

$84.9 $84.9

-5.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,537 $1,537

$1,439 $1,439

6.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,379 $1,379

$1,604 $1,604

-14.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,844 $2,844

$2,111 $2,111

34.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,165 $2,165

$2,628 $2,628

-17.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,061 $3,061

$2,053 $2,053

49.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,029 $3,029

$2,133 $2,133

42.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,699 $3,699

$4,598 $4,598

-19.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.4

2.34%

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

Last update for Salem, OR: June 2, 2026

Last update for Rochester, MN: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,537 in Salem, OR and $1,439 in Rochester, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rochester, MN pays 24% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $89.0 in Salem, OR vs $75.0 in Rochester, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $398 vs $373 per month, with Rochester, MN 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

Salem, OR vs Rochester, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salem, OR wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Rochester, MN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Salem, OR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Rochester, MN earns 24% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,537 in Salem, OR versus $1,439 in Rochester, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Rochester, MN pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Salem, OR – a meal for two runs $89.0 versus $75.0 in Rochester, MN. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Salem, OR is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Salem, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Rochester, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.