Cost Of Living In Eugene, OR (Taxes, Housing & More)

The pacific northwest is notable for its gorgeous vistas, bigfoot sightings, cultural significance, and a high quality of life. You may be more familiar with Portland and Salem than cities such as Eugene, but Eugene is booming. Home to farms, local eateries, and parks, Eugene is a great city, but what is the cost of living?

The cost of living in Eugene, OR is higher than the United States average due to housing costs and expenses. Eugene’s housing costs are lower than Oregon’s, but the $297,600 median home value is higher than the U.S. average. The average Eugene, Oregon resident spends up to $800 per month before rent or mortgage payments.

Follow along as we take an in-depth look into the cost of living in Eugene, Oregon.

The homeownership rate in Eugene may seem significantly less than the state of Oregon, but there are many reasons why. First, Eugene is home to the University of Oregon, meaning that many residents live on campus or rent apartments. Besides that, Eugene boasts many great renting opportunities, and the numbers show that younger people are more likely to rent, and not buy.

You can also expect to spend up to $1,600 or more a year in homeowner’s insurance costs. That may seem like a lot, but the national average is $2,305. Mortgage payments in Eugene can easily cost between $1,600 and $1,800 a month.

Utilities can cost a total of $127 per month in Eugene, but it varies based on energy consumption. The low utility cost, compared to the rest of Oregon, is due to the 9.64¢ per kilowatt-hour electricity rate in Eugene. Another component to low utility costs is that Eugene has incentives for homes and apartment buildings to be energy efficient.

Besides your basic electricity, gas, and water costs, internet bills are another monthly cost factor. Expect to spend roughly $65 on an internet plan, or more if you pair it with phone plans. You should also factor in between $20 and $45 per month for garbage pickup, unless you are a renter, and it is included in your lease.

Believe it or not, Eugene, Oregon has no sales tax on any products. The state of Oregon is one of only 5 American states that have zero sales tax. Other American states with no sales tax include Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Alaska.

Residents of Eugene only need to consider sales tax if they are traveling outside of Oregon. While the state imposes no sales tax, counties and cities within Oregon can impose sales tax. Luckily, Eugene is not one of those cities and has a 0% sales tax rate.

If a low property tax rate is a big selling point for you, then you can consider Eugene, Oregon sold. The national average property tax rate is 1.08%, but Eugene’s property tax rate is 1.04%. That comes out to $7.01 for every $1,000 in assessed value of your home.

Property tax exemptions are possible in Eugene, Oregon, but they come with stipulations. Multi-family homes in downtown Eugene are eligible for property tax exemption for up to 10 years. However, this only applies to newly constructed homes built with 5 units or more.

Oregon has the 29th lowest property tax rate in the United States. As low as Eugene’s tax rate may sound, Gilliam County has the lowest rate at 0.85%.

Oregon has the 3rd highest state income tax in the United States, right behind Hawaii and California. In many ways, the high state income tax makes up for the lack of state income tax. It is important to factor state income tax into the cost of living, as well as the federal income tax.

You can also pay up to 9.9% on capital gains from investments in Oregon. However, the capital gain tax rates are the same as their income taxes and can be as low as 5%.

You could spend between $130 and $245 a month on food in Eugene if you stick to groceries. One of the things Eugene is known for is the number of farms and options for organic food. Because of that, buying local is a big thing in Eugene and a great way to save money.

The average single adult in Oregon spends up to $3,500 or more a year on food. Several cost factors affect the total, however, such as eating out versus eating at home. Food can be pricier in Eugene than in other Oregon cities, such as Salem, which has 3.4% cheaper food costs.

The University of Oregon can cost $36,615 a year for out of state students, and $12,720 for local students. You can save money by choosing Lane Community College which costs between $5,000 and $10,590 each year.

Private education is both popular and costly in Eugene, Oregon. A private elementary education can cost up to $18,500 a year at Oak Hill. There are also private colleges, such as Northwest Christian University, and it can cost up to $31,410 per year.

There are also many public education opportunities in Eugene, Oregon that can save you money. Popular public schools in Eugene include The Village School, Prairie Mountain School, and Ridgeline Montessori Public Charter School.

The average cost of car insurance in Eugene is $1,231 per year for full coverage. This is lower than the Oregon average of $1,346 a year for a full coverage policy. Though, your rate can vary based on your age, personal driving record, the insurance company that you choose, and whether you opt for full or minimum coverage.

To help illustrate how car insurance premiums vary based on where you live in Oregon, the following table outlines average car insurance rates in five Oregon cities:

A new car in Eugene can easily cost $20,000 or more, and that limits many residents. If you rode the bus for a whole year in Eugene, it would only cost you $540. Compare that to the thousands in additional costs of driving aside from a car itself, and you save a fortune.

If you are simply looking to have a fun day out downtown, a pedicab is a great choice for sightseeing. Expect to pay $40 per hour for a pedicab service. Otherwise, a single day bus or train fare won’t cost more than $1.75 and can help give your car a break.

You could fly nonstop from Eugene to Los Angeles for between $92 and $196 per ticket. Flying from Eugene all the way across the country to St. Louis would currently cost $278 roundtrip. Eugene Airport is known as the fifth largest pacific northwest airport, and it serves with five different airlines.

Think twice before parking your car at Eugene Airport if you have a long trip planned. You will spend $12 per day for parking, or $72 for a weekly rate. You can save money on this cost by simply choosing to shuttle to the airport.

A shuttle to Eugene Airport can cost $45 per person, for adults. That cost includes a free ride for one child that is 12 years old or younger.

Movies are a popular form of entertainment in Eugene, Oregon, and tickets can cost $10 per person. A form of entertainment unique to Eugene is the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Ticket prices vary based on age, with senior and child tickets at $4 each, and adult tickets at $6.

You can spend $4-$8 for admission to the Eugene Science Center depending on the show you are attending. Children get free admission, so the Eugene Science Center is a great option for families.

Related Questions

Is Eugene, Oregon safe?

Yes, Eugene far from the most dangerous city in Oregon, but there is still an element of crime. Only 1 out of 259 Eugene residents face violent crime, and property crime is more common. There are roughly 36 crimes for every 1,000 residents in Eugene, Oregon.

Does Eugene, Oregon get wildfires?

Like other pacific northwest cities, Eugene does get wildfires. There was recently a wildfire that raged along a nearby river and destroyed 500 structures in and around Eugene. When there are wildfires nearby Eugene, and even in California, smoke is still detectable in the Eugene area.

What is Eugene, Oregon known for?

Eugene is most notably known for the University of Oregon, and many gorgeous trails and paths. The college town was also ranked the #1 U.S. city for hippies due to prominent cultural people, such as Ken Kesey, coming from Eugene. Hendricks Park and Alton Baker Park are popular trails for hiking and recreation in Eugene.

A home in Eugene may cost $297,600, but renting can cost between $800 and $1,324 a month. You’ll pay at least $127 in utilities, on average, and another $65 a month in Eugene for internet service. Gas prices are relatively high, currently starting at $2.09 a gallon.

You should budget at least $130-$245 a month for food in Eugene, and you can save big by eating at home. Eugene is a gorgeous and cultured city and living there is well worth the cost of living.