F
33%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
101%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Bend Oregon National
Cost of living133111100
Goods & Services104105100
Groceries107109100
Health care101105100
Housing201123100
Transportation107117100
Utilities9696100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Bend, OR

Knowing the cost of living in Bend 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 Bend stands at 133, marking it 33% higher than the national average.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Bend may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Bend falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Bend 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 100.8% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Bend?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 88 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Bend and this is how they responded. 41% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 59% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Bend Affordable?

Is Bend an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Bend is 124.7% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 44.8% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Bend has a median household income of $67,973, which is 22.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Bend?

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Bend, the housing index is 100.8% 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.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Bend, the healthcare costs are 0.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Bend cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Bend is 19% higher than the Oregon average
  • The cost of living in Bend is 33% higher than the national average
  • Bend housing is 101% higher than the national average
  • Oregon general sales tax is 100% lower than the national average
  • Oregon state income tax is 83% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Bend

See all the best places to live around Bend

Compare Bend, OR Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$84,393$7,033$1,969$2,532
      Renters$51,951$4,329$1,212$1,559
      The affordability of the housing market in Bend, OR as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Bend homeowners, the median income is $84,393. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,969 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $51,951. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,212 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Oregon Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Oregon 0% 0%

      Oregon Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Oregon 4.75% 9.9%

      Goods & Services

      Item Bend National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.36$24.2612.8%
      Beauty Salon $43.93$45.563.6%
      Toothpaste $3.77$3.701.9%
      Shampoo $1.52$1.2818.4%
      Movie $11.07$12.138.8%
      Bowling $19.22$18.006.8%

      Groceries

      Item Bend National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.60$5.844.1%
      Fried Chicken $2.03$1.5728.8%
      Milk $4.82$4.673.2%
      Potatoes $4.42$4.9310.5%
      Pizza $12.91$12.096.8%
      Beer $12.06$10.4115.8%

      Health Care

      Item Bend National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $128.83$125.682.5%
      Doctor $133.80$135.781.5%
      Dentist $129.67$113.2914.5%
      Ibuprofen $11.33$10.656.4%
      Lipitor $359.57$468.6023.3%

      Housing

      Item Bend National avg. Difference
      Home Price $415,100.00$184,700.00124.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,144.31$2,346.6934.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,374.00$949.0044.8%

      Transportation

      Item Bend National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.01$3.4615.9%
      Tire Balancing $50.89$59.9215.1%

      Utilities

      Item Bend National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $184.23$193.995.0%
      Phone $184.96$192.253.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Redmond, OR31,35911515.1%
      Deschutes River Woods, OR6,30512524.7%
      Eagle Crest, OR2,85714343.1%
      Sunriver, OR1,18314544.9%
      Tumalo, OR40715858.0%
      Bend, OR97,03213332.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Albany, NY96,8601032.6%
      Nampa, ID96,8251033.3%
      Federal Way, WA96,81213434.4%
      Lawrence, KS97,348981.8%
      Yuma, AZ97,428973.2%
      Bend, OR97,03213332.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.