Oregon is 7.0% cheaper than Washington. The cost of living in Oregon generally decreases. There are cheap housing opportunities in eastern Washington and on the Olympic Peninsula, but the Puget Sound region is more expensive than Oregon. On the contrary, only the Portland metropolitan area can offer this type of housing.
Oregon leaves the door more affordable overall. The region of the Olympic Peninsula has a lot of cheap housing. Comparatively, parts of Puget Sound are more expensive. Oregon, however, has a lot of cheap housing, with the exception of some suburbs outside of Portland.
Washington residents, on the other hand, while paying sales taxes, do not pay income taxes and house prices are much lower than their Oregon neighbors. Which means that if you lived and paid taxes in Washington State, but did all your shopping in Oregon, you could save yourself a huge tax break by simply traveling between the two states. Oregon isn't noticeably cheaper when it comes to housing. House prices in Oregon are slightly lower than in Washington, but they have been rising steadily in recent years.
Income taxes are another consideration when deciding whether to buy a home in Washington or Oregon. And there is a clear difference here. Washington is one of seven states in the country that do not charge income taxes. Oregon, on the other hand, does collect income tax from its residents.
However, Oregon does not charge a sales tax on purchased goods, while Washington has a sales tax of up to 10%. Home to one of the most expensive real estate markets in the United States, Oregon is very popular with investors. Oregon is also home to a variety of marine life, so you can enjoy watching seabirds, whales and animals in the intertidal zone. Of course, if you LIVE in Washington, you must file a form with the Washington State Department of Revenue detailing your purchases in Oregon and paying the required sales tax.
The highest property tax rate in Oregon is ranked 30th, and the lowest is in Washington at 29th position. Compared to their Oregon neighbors, Washington residents don't pay income taxes and pay much lower home values when they pay sales tax. I lived in two of the highest-taxed states in the country so I could cover people who don't work for a living. The state of Oregon does not charge a sales tax on purchased goods; Washington, however, has a sales tax of 12.5%.
In some cases, some Washington and Oregon residents may not have to pay Oregon income tax. Washington State is right next to Oregon, so it's very easy for you and your family to visit if you want to leave Oregon during your vacation, but don't want to travel very far. Real estate prices in Oregon are a little cheaper than nationally, although they are higher than both. Some of the safest cities in Oregon, according to FBI data, include West Linn, Lake Oswego, LA Grande, Newberg-Dundee and St.
A cost-of-living index allows you to compare what it costs to live in one place with another, revealing how far your money will go in different areas. Washington and Oregon are great places to live, and they have a very similar climate, but it's up to you to decide where you want to live. The total cost of living in Oregon is higher than the national average, and you may notice it in housing, food, and transportation costs.
