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Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Eugene-Springfield, OR

Cost-of-living indicators for Eugene-Springfield, OR, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.

101.6
Overall RPP
#61
of 387 metros
98.3
Rents RPP
$98K
$100K national buys

The verdict

Eugene is more expensive than 84% of U.S. metros — an overall cost index of 101.6, 1.6% above the national average, led by goods at 105.3.

101.6
overall cost index (US average = 100)
#61
most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
top 16%
by overall cost, nationwide
98.3
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $98,456 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $101,568.

What the Numbers Mean for Eugene

Eugene ranks #61 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 101.6, Eugene-Springfield, OR is 1.6% more expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Eugene's most and least expensive categories — goods at 105.3 versus rents at 98.3 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.

Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $98,456 inside Eugene, while a household needs roughly $101,568 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 98.3 — 1.7% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.

Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Eugene's overall index has risen by 5.2 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 105.3 and services at 102.5, meaning everyday spending in Eugene is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.

Eugene vs every U.S. metro

Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution

102 Top 16% higher than 84% of 387 US metros

80–84: 3 US metros (1%). Below this entry. 84–88: 48 US metros (12%). Below this entry. 88–92: 94 US metros (24%). Below this entry. 92–96: 97 US metros (25%). Below this entry. 96–100: 55 US metros (14%). Below this entry. 100–104: 54 US metros (14%). This entry sits in this band. 104–108: 17 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 108–112: 14 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 112–116: 5 US metros (1%). Above this entry. 116–120: 0 US metros (0%). Above this entry. This metro 80 120 every US metro, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024

Eugene cost breakdown

BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average

RPP

What this shows Eugene's gap from the national average is led by goods at 105.3. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities As of 2024

Goods vs. housing — where Eugene's cost comes from

Metros near Eugene's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 105.2, rents 98.4). Eugene is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Eugene's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 105.2, rents 98.4). Eugene is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Eugene's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures. 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 7 entities by Goods RPP (tradable items) → (X) and Rents RPP (housing) → (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Pricier on bothMore housing-ledMore goods-ledCheaper on both 95100105110 90100110120130 Goods RPP (tradable items) → Rents RPP (housing) → EugeneHanfordMedfordOrlandoProvidencePortlandChico
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 105.2, rents 98.4). Eugene is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Eugene's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Price Index Summary

Overall

101.6

+1.6 above avg

Goods

105.3

+5.3 above avg

Services

102.5

+2.5 above avg

Rents

98.3

-1.7 below avg

Salary Equivalent

A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:

$101,568

in Eugene-Springfield, OR purchasing power

$50,000 nationally
$50,784
$75,000 nationally
$76,176
$125,000 nationally
$126,960
$150,000 nationally
$152,352
$200,000 nationally
$203,136

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.

RPP History (2008-2024)

The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 5.2 points over this period.

Year Overall
2008 96.4
2009 100.0
2010 97.9
2011 100.9
2012 100.5
2013 99.1
2014 98.7
2015 97.7
2016 98.0
2017 99.6
2018 102.1
2019 101.5
2020 100.6
2021 100.8
2022 104.7
2023 103.5
2024 101.6

Metros with Similar Cost of Living

These metros have an overall RPP closest to Eugene-Springfield, OR's index of 101.6.

What this means for Eugene

How to read Eugene's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.

  • Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $98,456 in Eugene. Salary calculator
  • Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 98.3 (1.7% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
  • Local median household income is $69,311; adjusted for Eugene's price level that is about $68,241 in national-average buying power.
  • Compare Eugene head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros

RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Eugene-Springfield, OR?
Eugene-Springfield, OR has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 101.6, meaning it is 1.6% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 105.3, services at 102.5, and rents at 98.3. It ranks #61 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Eugene-Springfield, OR to match $100K nationally?
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $101,568 in Eugene-Springfield, OR. Conversely, $100K earned in Eugene-Springfield, OR has the purchasing power of $98,456 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Eugene-Springfield, OR?
Rents in Eugene-Springfield, OR are indexed at 98.3, which is 1.7% below the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Eugene-Springfield, OR getting more expensive?
From 2008 to 2024, Eugene-Springfield, OR's overall cost index changed by +5.2 points (from 96.4 to 101.6). The cost of living has been trending upward.
What costs the most in Eugene-Springfield, OR?
The most expensive category in Eugene-Springfield, OR is goods at 105.3, which is 5.3% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 98.3, 1.7% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Eugene-Springfield, OR?
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Hanford-Corcoran, Medford, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Eugene-Springfield, OR's 101.6.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Federal data behind these figures
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
  • U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr