Washington vs Oregon: which really costs more?
The cleanest contrast in the country. Washington charges no income tax but a high sales tax. Oregon is the other way round. Neighbors, built backwards from each other.
Both layers pull in the same direction here. Income tax and sales tax each differ by enough to matter, so the gap builds up twice rather than once. The purchase they disagree about most is home purchase. After that it is car purchase and then car payment or lease. Everything below is sorted the same way, biggest gap first, so the things that barely differ sink to the bottom where they belong.
The cleanest structural contrast in the United States: Washington has no income tax but a high sales tax, Oregon has no sales tax but one of the highest effective income tax rates. Neighbors, opposite designs.
Both the income tax differential and the combined sales tax differential are material and same-signed, so the two layers compound rather than offset. Largest absolute divergence by category: home purchase. Then car purchase, then car payment or lease.
Washington
- Income tax rate
- none
- On a $75,000 salary
- 0%
- Rank of 51
- 43
- Combined sales tax
- 9.57%
- Rank of 51
- 4
Oregon
- Income tax rate
- 4.75%–9.9%
- On a $75,000 salary
- 8.02%
- Rank of 51
- 1
- Combined sales tax
- 0%
- Rank of 51
- 48
Beyond income and sales tax
Owning a home costs much the same in property tax here: 0.81% of its value each year in Washington, 0.81% in Oregon. Both states tax large estates when someone dies. At the pump, Washington adds 57¢ 56.5¢ of state tax to every gallon. Oregon adds 46¢.
Effective property tax rates are within a tenth of a point: about 0.81% of market value in Washingtonand about 0.81% in Oregon. Both levy a state estate tax, on top of the federal one. State gasoline excise: 57¢ 56.5¢ per gallon in Washington, 46¢ in Oregon.
The income tax figure is what one person earning $75,000.00 pays to the state, as a share of that pay. The sales tax figure is the combined state and local rate. Both come from the same checked data the calculator uses.
Income tax is the effective state rate at $75,000 for a single filer, not a marginal rate. Sales tax is the combined state and local rate at each state's representative county where one is modeled, and a statewide average for the forty-five jurisdictions that carry no named county. Both figures come from the same verified datasets the calculator uses.
Washington against Oregon
A $75,000 salary
| Measure | Washington | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home pay | $61,593 | $55,580 |
| Worth after local prices | $56,735 | $53,075 |
| Share of pay taxed | 17.88% | 25.89% |
| State sales tax | 6.5% | 0% |
| Groceries exempt here | Yes | Yes |
| Clothing exempt at $100 | No | Yes |
| Property tax rate | 0.81% | 0.81% |
| Price level | 108.6 | 104.7 |
| Housing prices | 125.5 | 109 |
| Fuel tax | 56.5¢ | 46¢ |
| Tobacco tax | $3.03 | $3.33 |
City income tax excluded. Sales-tax row: state-only. Exemptions: Washington, Statewide average; Oregon, No general sales tax. Clothing: one $100 item; higher prices can change tax.
Where each state is strong
A $75,000 salary
Further out is better on every axis. Axes use fixed national ranges, not the two states alone.
Where each state takes it
A $75,000 salary
- Income
- Sales
- Property
| Tax | Washington | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Income, all levels | $13,408 | $19,420 |
| Sales, on that spending | $1,201 | $0 |
| Property, on that home | $1,614 | $1,623 |
Assumes 30% of take-home spent on taxable goods and a $200,000 home. Three bases, so never summed.
What gets taxed, in each
A $75,000 salary
Washington
Statewide average
Oregon
No general sales tax
- Sales tax
- Fuel
- Tobacco
| Category | Washington | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | Exempt | Exempt |
| Clothing at $100 | 9.57% | Exempt |
| Fuel | 56.5¢ | 46¢ |
| Tobacco | $3.03 | $3.33 |
Grocery and general rates use the locations named here. Clothing is one item priced at $100; a more expensive garment may be taxed differently. Fuel and tobacco have separate units and scales.
What you would need there
A $75,000 salary
| To match take-home only | $84,760 |
|---|---|
| Raise you would need | +$6,223 |
| Prices in Oregon | 105 vs 109 |
State taxes and state price levels only. No city tax, and no housing market.
What things actually cost in each
These are the amounts you would need to earn before tax to pay for each thing, at a $75,000.00 salary. Biggest gaps first.
Gross income required at $75,000, using each category's default assumptions, sorted by the absolute difference between the two states.
| Category | Washington | Oregon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home purchase | $1,133,350 | $1,344,189 | $210,838 cheaper in Washington |
| Car purchase | $132,759 | $146,975 | $14,216 cheaper in Washington |
| Car payment or lease | $16,529 | $18,877 | $2,348 cheaper in Washington |
| Wedding | $46,725 | $48,765 | $2,040 cheaper in Washington |
| Funeral | $11,372 | $12,987 | $1,615 cheaper in Washington |
| Phone plan | $9,794 | $11,186 | $1,391 cheaper in Washington |
| Coffee habit | $25,613 | $26,696 | $1,083 cheaper in Washington |
| Used car from a private seller | $18,690 | $19,481 | $791 cheaper in Washington |
| Rent | $2,559 | $2,922 | $363 cheaper in Washington |
| Jewelry | $5,451 | $5,682 | $231 cheaper in Washington |
| Childcare | $1,564 | $1,786 | $222 cheaper in Washington |
| Hotel stay | $994 | $1,136 | $141 cheaper in Washington |
| Pet annual cost | $2,411 | $2,513 | $102 cheaper in Washington |
| Furniture | $2,336 | $2,435 | $99 cheaper in Washington |
| Health insurance premium | $640 | $731 | $91 cheaper in Washington |
| Gift card | $569 | $649 | $81 cheaper in Washington |
| Student loan payment | $569 | $649 | $81 cheaper in Washington |
| Laptop or phone purchase | $1,869 | $1,948 | $79 cheaper in Washington |
| Vet visit | $512 | $584 | $73 cheaper in Washington |
| Major appliance | $1,713 | $1,786 | $72 cheaper in Washington |
| Domestic flight | $466 | $532 | $66 cheaper in Washington |
| Sofa bed | $1,557 | $1,623 | $66 cheaper in Washington |
| Mattress | $1,402 | $1,461 | $59 cheaper in Washington |
| Winter tires | $1,402 | $1,461 | $59 cheaper in Washington |
| Tires | $1,246 | $1,299 | $53 cheaper in Washington |
| Meal kit | $341 | $390 | $48 cheaper in Washington |
| Bicycle | $1,090 | $1,136 | $46 cheaper in Washington |
| Espresso machine | $1,090 | $1,136 | $46 cheaper in Washington |
| Utilities | $299 | $341 | $42 cheaper in Washington |
| Office chair | $935 | $974 | $40 cheaper in Washington |
| Theme park day | $790 | $828 | $38 cheaper in Washington |
| Weekly groceries | $249 | $284 | $35 cheaper in Washington |
| Car insurance | $235 | $268 | $33 cheaper in Washington |
| Air conditioner | $779 | $812 | $33 cheaper in Washington |
| Back-to-school clothes | $779 | $812 | $33 cheaper in Washington |
| Games console | $779 | $812 | $33 cheaper in Washington |
| Lawn mower | $701 | $731 | $30 cheaper in Washington |
| Grocery delivery | $202 | $230 | $29 cheaper in Washington |
| Camping gear | $662 | $690 | $28 cheaper in Washington |
| Power tools | $623 | $649 | $26 cheaper in Washington |
| Suit | $623 | $649 | $26 cheaper in Washington |
| Storage unit | $185 | $211 | $26 cheaper in Washington |
| Birthday cake | $171 | $195 | $24 cheaper in Washington |
| School uniform | $561 | $584 | $24 cheaper in Washington |
| Vacuum cleaner | $545 | $568 | $23 cheaper in Washington |
| Cookware | $467 | $487 | $20 cheaper in Washington |
| Running shoes | $405 | $422 | $17 cheaper in Washington |
| Luggage | $389 | $406 | $16 cheaper in Washington |
| Rental car | $438 | $422 | $16 cheaper in Oregon |
| Work uniform | $343 | $357 | $15 cheaper in Washington |
| Cannabis (legal states) | $101 | $115 | $14 cheaper in Washington |
| Internet service | $100 | $114 | $14 cheaper in Washington |
| Winter coat | $312 | $325 | $13 cheaper in Washington |
| School supplies | $280 | $292 | $12 cheaper in Washington |
| Concert ticket | $212 | $224 | $12 cheaper in Washington |
| Baby formula | $64 | $73 | $9.08 cheaper in Washington |
| Gas fill-up | $64 | $73 | $9.08 cheaper in Washington |
| Haircut | $60 | $68 | $8.49 cheaper in Washington |
| Clothing | $187 | $195 | $7.91 cheaper in Washington |
| Restaurant dinner | $150 | $156 | $6.32 cheaper in Washington |
| Prescription refill | $43 | $49 | $6.06 cheaper in Washington |
| Costume | $140 | $146 | $5.94 cheaper in Washington |
| Swimwear | $132 | $138 | $5.62 cheaper in Washington |
| Coffee beans | $34 | $39 | $4.85 cheaper in Washington |
| Frozen meals | $31 | $36 | $4.45 cheaper in Washington |
| Rideshare trip | $31 | $36 | $4.45 cheaper in Washington |
| Food delivery | $55 | $59 | $4.37 cheaper in Washington |
| Pet food | $93 | $97 | $3.98 cheaper in Washington |
| Pizza delivery | $58 | $62 | $3.87 cheaper in Washington |
| Baby clothes | $86 | $89 | $3.62 cheaper in Washington |
| Sunscreen | $86 | $89 | $3.62 cheaper in Washington |
| First aid supplies | $70 | $73 | $2.95 cheaper in Washington |
| Gym membership | $70 | $73 | $2.95 cheaper in Washington |
| Streaming bundle | $70 | $73 | $2.95 cheaper in Washington |
| Bread and bakery | $20 | $23 | $2.83 cheaper in Washington |
| Dry cleaning | $62 | $65 | $2.64 cheaper in Washington |
| Toiletries | $62 | $65 | $2.64 cheaper in Washington |
| Snack food | $17 | $19 | $2.43 cheaper in Washington |
| Vitamins and supplements | $55 | $57 | $2.30 cheaper in Washington |
| Cinema ticket | $46 | $48 | $2.20 cheaper in Washington |
| Deli sandwich | $51 | $54 | $2.17 cheaper in Washington |
| Bottled water | $14 | $16 | $2.02 cheaper in Washington |
| Books | $47 | $49 | $1.97 cheaper in Washington |
| Bottled juice | $13 | $15 | $1.82 cheaper in Washington |
| Soft drinks | $37 | $39 | $1.57 cheaper in Washington |
| Over-the-counter medicine | $23 | $24 | $0.97 cheaper in Washington |
| Energy drinks | $22 | $23 | $0.92 cheaper in Washington |
| Candy | $19 | $19 | $0.80 cheaper in Washington |
| Fast food meal | $19 | $19 | $0.80 cheaper in Washington |
| Bar drink | $17 | $18 | $0.73 cheaper in Washington |
| Cigarettes or vape | $14 | $15 | $0.60 cheaper in Washington |
Across the 91 things we can price in both states, Washington comes out cheaper more often. That is not the whole story. Housing, wages and property tax move far more than sales tax does, and none of them are in these numbers. See limitations.
Across the 91 categories computable in both states, Washington is cheaper more often. ⚠️ This compares tax treatment alone: housing costs, prevailing wages and property tax vary far more between states than sales tax does, and none of them enter these figures. See limitations.
Questions people ask
One of these has no income tax — is it simply the cheaper one?
Not on its own. A state without an income tax has to raise the money somewhere else, so the comparison only means something once sales and property are counted too. The pair here differs by about 9.57% on the sales side, which is where a good deal of that difference reappears.
Which of these is actually cheaper?
There is no single answer for this pair. One state leans on income and the other on spending, separated by about 9.57% at the register, so the ranking flips depending on the household.
How much would moving between these two actually change?
Enough to be worth calculating rather than guessing. The gap between these two is wide on at least one levy, so the answer depends on your own income and spending rather than on a general rule — which is what the calculator above is for.
Does the absence of an income tax make this the lower-burden state?
One state levies no personal income tax on wages and the other does. Revenue substitution means the comparison is only meaningful across all three bases: the combined sales rate differs by about 9.57%, and property tax is levied independently. ⚠️ Relative burden depends on a household's income, consumption and property mix, and reverses across that range for many pairs.
Why do the two levies rank these states differently?
The income and consumption levies rank these states in opposite directions, with a about 9.57% sales differential offsetting the income differential. Relative burden is therefore a function of the household's consumption share of income; no ordering holds across the full range, and single-figure comparisons implicitly assume one.
How material is this differential?
At least one levy differs materially between these states. Aggregate effect is income- and consumption-dependent and should be computed for the specific household rather than inferred from headline rates; the ordering can still reverse once property tax is included.