Uprootmap
Santa Cruz vs Portland
Santa Cruz and Portland
Photo: Visitor7 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Portland are under the US rate in this release, 3.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Santa Cruz to Portland
In 2022-2023, 106 households filed a move from Santa Cruz to Portland (about 134 people, average adjusted gross income $101,104). 45 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,638 in Santa Cruz and $1,416 in Portland. Santa Cruz has a state tax on wages. Portland has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Portland is 105% of the national level for the same work, against 98% in Santa Cruz.
Portland averages 144 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 36°F. Santa Cruz is 247 sunny days, 77°F in July, 44°F in January. Commutes average 26 minutes in Portland and 27 in Santa Cruz.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 106 households moved Santa Cruz → Portland (about 134 people, average AGI $101,104). 45 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Santa Cruz and Portland changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 713 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,350–$4,400
- Container or pod
- $1,600–$3,050
- Rent a truck
- $800–$1,500
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Dig into Portland
Questions
Is Portland cheaper than Santa Cruz after tax and rent?
Yes. Portland leaves about $979 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,638 in Santa Cruz and $1,416 in Portland.
Does Portland have state income tax?
Portland is in Oregon, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Santa Cruz to Portland?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.