| Index | Salem | Oregon | National |
| Cost of living | 115 | 111 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Health care | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Housing | 133 | 124 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 106 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 104 | 107 | 100 |
| Household Items | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 110 | 109 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Salem allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Salem stands at 115, marking it 15% higher than the national average.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Salem cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 33.3% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 23 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Salem. The feedback revealed that 26% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 74% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Salem an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Salem, the median home price is 44% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 8.2% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Salem come in at $88,251, which is 8.5% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Salem comes in at 10.3% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Salem, healthcare costs are 7.3% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
The cost of living data for Salem shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $118,539 | $9,878 | $2,766 | $3,557 |
| Renters | $57,622 | $4,802 | $1,344 | $1,729 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Oregon | 0% | 0% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Oregon | 4.75% | 9.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| West Scio, OR | 39 | 105 | 4.9% |
| Rickreall, OR | 0 | 107 | 6.6% |
| Eola, OR | 0 | 107 | 6.6% |
| Labish Village, OR | 505 | 103 | 3.2% |
| Brooks, OR | 638 | 104 | 4.4% |
| Salem, OR | 177,138 | 115 | 14.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Peoria, AZ | 177,686 | 118 | 18.4% |
| Garden Grove, CA | 176,551 | 165 | 65.4% |
| Eugene, OR | 176,249 | 119 | 19.3% |
| Oshawa, ON | 176,009 | n/a | |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | 178,777 | 123 | 23.1% |
| Salem, OR | 177,138 | 115 | 14.6% |
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