B-
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
20%
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 St. Helens Oregon National
Cost of living112111100
Goods & Services106105100
Groceries111109100
Health care110105100
Housing120123100
Transportation126117100
Utilities9696100

An Overview of Cost of Living in St. Helens, OR

Getting a feel for the cost of living in St. Helens is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in St. Helens is 112, which is 12% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in St. Helens, it's the same story – grocery costs are 10.5% higher than what people pay across the country.

Is St. Helens Affordable?

Is St. Helens 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 St. Helens, the median home price is 27.6% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 1.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in St. Helens come in at $57,234, which is 3.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in St. Helens?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In St. Helens, the utilities index is 3.8% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In St. Helens, healthcare costs are 9.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in St. Helens, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in St. Helens is 1% higher than the Oregon average
  • The cost of living in St. Helens is 12% higher than the national average
  • St. Helens housing is 20% 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 St. Helens

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Compare St. Helens, 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$78,885$6,574$1,841$2,367
      Renters$32,387$2,699$756$972
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in St. Helens, OR, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for St. Helens homeowners, is $78,885. This would allow for a maximum of $1,841 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $32,387 which would result in a maximum of $756 to be spent on rental 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 St. Helens National avg. Difference
      Haircut $41.22$24.2669.9%
      Beauty Salon $60.58$45.5633.0%
      Toothpaste $3.63$3.702.0%
      Shampoo $1.53$1.2819.5%
      Movie $12.98$12.136.9%
      Bowling $18.31$18.001.7%

      Groceries

      Item St. Helens National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.17$5.845.7%
      Fried Chicken $2.03$1.5728.8%
      Milk $5.04$4.677.9%
      Potatoes $4.39$4.9311.1%
      Pizza $12.21$12.091.0%
      Beer $12.07$10.4115.9%

      Health Care

      Item St. Helens National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $131.94$125.685.0%
      Doctor $188.49$135.7838.8%
      Dentist $115.08$113.291.6%
      Ibuprofen $11.58$10.658.7%
      Lipitor $386.53$468.6017.5%

      Housing

      Item St. Helens National avg. Difference
      Home Price $235,700.00$184,700.0027.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,332.86$2,346.6942.0%
      Apartment Rent $965.00$949.001.7%

      Transportation

      Item St. Helens National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.16$3.4620.3%
      Tire Balancing $84.45$59.9240.9%

      Utilities

      Item St. Helens National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $182.73$193.995.8%
      Phone $190.36$192.251.0%
      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.
      Deer Island, OR1051000.4%
      Rainier, OR2,0801098.6%
      Prescott, OR8511312.7%
      Walnut Grove, WA9,32411313.0%
      Woodland, WA6,22311616.4%
      St. Helens, OR13,77911212.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lockhart, TX13,782945.8%
      Wood Dale, IL13,78311414.3%
      Royse City, TX13,77311716.9%
      Jefferson Valley-Yorktown, NY13,78614544.6%
      Bridgetown, OH13,786955.5%
      St. Helens, OR13,77911212.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.