B+
3%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
4%
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 Prineville Oregon National
Cost of living103111100
Goods & Services104105100
Groceries107109100
Health care101105100
Housing104123100
Transportation107117100
Utilities9696100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Prineville, OR

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Prineville? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Prineville stands at 103, making it 3% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in Prineville is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, goods and services and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.

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

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 5 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Prineville. The feedback revealed that 60% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 40% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Prineville Affordable?

Is Prineville 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 Prineville, the median home price is 6.6% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 3.6% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Prineville come in at $42,298, which is 23.5% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Prineville?

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Prineville, the groceries index is 7% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Prineville starts at 0% and the income tax rates start at 4.75%.

Where is the Data From?

The Prineville cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Prineville is 7% lower than the Oregon average
  • The cost of living in Prineville is 3% higher than the national average
  • Prineville housing is 4% 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 Prineville

See all the best places to live around Prineville

Compare Prineville, 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$62,423$5,202$1,456$1,873
      Renters$33,409$2,784$779$1,002
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Prineville is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Prineville has a median income of about $62,423 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,456 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $33,409. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $779 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Prineville 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 Prineville 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 Prineville 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 Prineville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $196,800.00$184,700.006.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,144.31$2,346.6934.0%
      Apartment Rent $915.00$949.003.6%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Prineville 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.
      Prineville, OR10,4291033.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Silverton, OR10,42612222.5%
      Union City, TN10,4268217.8%
      Newcastle, OK10,425973.3%
      Exeter, CA10,43311515.1%
      Whitecourt, AB10,433n/a 
      Prineville, OR10,4291033.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.