What Is The Cost Of Living In Bend, Oregon?

Bend, Oregon is fast becoming a dream destination for successful young singles and couples looking to raise a family. Within the last 5 years, it has also become an unlikely commuter spot for Silicon Valley residents who are looking for a “weekend home”, despite the 10-hour drive. With it, housing costs have exploded. Over 100,000 residents call the Bend area home.

With a cost of living index of 123.5, Bend, Oregon consistently is one of the more expensive places to live within the United States. However, with that price come many benefits, including access to great schools, lots of nature, and much more.

Is Bend worth it for you? Your reasons for moving will change that answer greatly, but if you are concerned about the cost of living in Bend, Oregon, consider the data before you make the leap.

As you can see, housing prices in Oregon in general are higher than the country’s average, with homeownership rates lower. Many people might be surprised to see that Bend has a higher median home value than Portland.

However, year over year real estate in Bend increases. In the past 5 years alone, housing in Bend, Oregon has appreciated over 60%, while the country’s average sits at just 35.6%.

Homeownership rates are still holding strong in Bend, but market experts expect this number to fall as time goes on, and more homes are replaced with apartments and multi-family units.

The average apartment size in Bend, Oregon is just 885 square feet. Rental prices in Portland, Oregon have gone down nearly 2% over last year, there was a 9% rise in rental prices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the most recent census data, 29.27% of households in Bend, Oregon were rentals.

The average monthly rent in most Oregon cities is generally lower than the national average, with a statewide average of just $1,110 a month. With this in mind, Oregon can be considered an affordable place to live for renters. However, rates vary considerably based on where you live in the state.

To put things in perspective, the following table outlines how the average monthly rent in Bend compares to other cities in the state of Oregon:

The utility cost of living index for Bend is 83.6, which ranks it as cheaper overall than the national average by quite a bit. The average residential electricity rate is 10.38¢/kWh, which is higher than the state’s average of 9.8¢/kWh. However, this comes in cheaper than the US average of 11.88¢/kWh.

For a 915 square foot apartment, Bend residents can expect to pay approximately $185 for their heating, electricity, cooling, water, and garbage. The average Bend resident pays just over $72 for their internet services.

Bad news – Oregon certainly makes up for its lack of sales tax when it comes to personal income tax. While local income tax is zero, that state has a progressive income tax system, with four income tax brackets in total that range from 4.85% to 9.9%. This top marginal rate of 9.9%, is one of the highest in the country.

Though, this rate only applies to single filers that make at least $125,000 or joint filers that make $250,000 of taxable income in Oregon. the state’s rate is about 8.75%, one of the highest in the country. This means that if your household income is $52,471 annually, the average, your estimated state income tax would be more than $3,800.

While Oregon doesn’t rank the highest in the country, it isn’t far behind.

Bend, Oregon’s food cost of living index is 102.2, which sits slightly above the national average. There are over 350 restaurants in and around Bend, so there is no concern about finding somewhere to eat. There is also a wide variety of grocery stores in Bend, both chain locations and smaller, locally-owned stores.

Residents of Bend seem to value organic or eco-friendly options, as there are many within the city limits to choose from.

It is recommended that 11% of a household’s budget go towards food. With the average household income in Bend being $52,741, that estimates about $5,691 annually for food, or $474 a month.

The transportation cost index in Bend, Oregon is 82.6, which is considerably lower than both the national and state average. Transportation costs are another important factor that you must consider in order to determine the overall cost of living in a particular location. These include expenses such as gas prices, public transportation costs, and annual car insurance premiums.

The average one-way commute for a resident of Bend, Oregon is just 15.3 minutes, which is significantly less than the national average of 26.4 minutes. Over 74% of residents drive themselves to work, with the car being the primary mode of transportation. 7.6% of residents carpool, and just 0.4% take the mass transit options.

Bend currently has a public transportation service called CET, which is a bus route that runs throughout the city. There are currently 9 routes total running through Bend, run by CET.

For those aged 6-59, a single ride will cost $1.50, with a day pass costing $2.50. For senior (60+) or disabled members of the community, it is $0.75 for a single ride or $1.25 for a day pass.

A month pass for those 18+ is $30, or $20 for those aged 6-18, and just $15 for seniors and disabled members of the community.

The CET also offers rural transportation into the city, as well as recreational bus transportation out into nature. Prices vary depending on the age of the rider and the location of the station.

Deschutes County in Oregon, where Bend is located, has quite a variety of schools to choose from. There are 27 preschools, 22 middle schools, and 13 high schools. 26 of those are public district schools, just 1 is a public charter school, and there are 87 total private schools.

Many of the schools in Bend are ranked Above-Average to Average by parents, and continue to have the highest concentration of top-rated schools in the state. However, the student: teacher ratio in Bend is higher than the state average, at 22:1 versus 20:1 for the rest of Oregon.

Bend, Oregon is perfect for those who love nature and the outdoors. Nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the desert plateaus, there are numerous nature and hiking activities you can do for absolutely no cost, including trail running on the Urban Trail System or rafting in the river. Tumalo Falls, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, and the Lava Lands Visitor Center are all highly recommended and free.

The city is very proud of its craft beer breweries, where you can expect to pay anywhere from $6-$12 for a pint of locally-made beer. There are even tour groups, ranging from $30-$100/trip, that will take you to the best breweries in the city.

The High Desert Museum in Bend is also highly recommended, with general admission just $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $9 for children under the age of 12.

No one can make the decision for you, but careful consideration should be taken! In WalletHub’s report of the Happiest States in America, Oregon was 41st on the list, which took into consideration depression rates, unemployment, and sports participation. The state did boast some of the highest income growth in the country, the fewest work hours, and the third-best volunteer rate.

Bend itself has over 100,000 residents with the Bend metro area boasting nearly 200,000 total, making it the fifth-largest metro area in the state.

Bend, Oregon is a beautiful city in a beautiful state. There is never a lack of things to do or nature to see, which appeals to a lot of people. But with a cost of living index at 123.5 and an average household income of just $52,741, it can be an incredibly expensive place to live as well.