Kelso, WA vs The Dalles, OR: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

The Dalles, OR has a modeled overall cost index 8.0% lower than Kelso, WA.

Kelso, WA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,440 / month
The Dalles, OR · modeled 2BR rent: $1,550 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Kelso, WA and The Dalles, OR using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Kelso, WA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $535/month in The Dalles, OR

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,581 in The Dalles, OR

Regional cost estimates: Kelso, WA uses Portland, OR. The Dalles, OR uses Portland, OR. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 8.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$535

Savings

Annual Impact

$6.4K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Kelso, WA

Population:13K

Cost Index:

114.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$380K

The Dalles, OR

Population:16K

Cost Index:

105.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$379K

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Kelso, WA

The Evergreen State

13K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Washington, this city has a population of 13K residents.

💡 Advantage: Washington has no state income tax!

The Dalles, OR

The Beaver State

16K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Oregon, this city has a population of 16K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Kelso, WA vs The Dalles, OR

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Kelso, WA	The Dalles, OR	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,103/mo	$2,854/mo	↓ $249less	8.0%
Other	$1,411/mo	$1,298/mo	↓ $113less	8.0%
Transportation	$1,262/mo	$1,160/mo	↓ $101less	8.0%
Groceries	$835/mo	$801/mo	↓ $34.25less	4.1%
Healthcare	$518/mo	$496/mo	↓ $21.24less	4.1%
All Utilities	$371/mo	$356/mo	↓ $15.23less	4.1%

Housing

↓ 8.0%

Kelso, WA

$3,103

The Dalles, OR

$2,854

Difference

$249

less

Other

↓ 8.0%

Kelso, WA

$1,411

The Dalles, OR

$1,298

Difference

$113

less

Transportation

↓ 8.0%

Kelso, WA

$1,262

The Dalles, OR

$1,160

Difference

$101

less

Groceries

↓ 4.1%

Kelso, WA

$835

The Dalles, OR

$801

Difference

$34.25

less

Healthcare

↓ 4.1%

Kelso, WA

$518

The Dalles, OR

$496

Difference

$21.24

less

All Utilities

↓ 4.1%

Kelso, WA

$371

The Dalles, OR

$356

Difference

$15.23

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$990

To$1,240

↑ $250

1 Bed

From$1,190

To$1,250

↑ $60.00

2 Bed

From$1,440

To$1,550

↑ $110

3 Bed

From$2,000

To$2,160

↑ $160

Kelso, WAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/mo

The Dalles, ORZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,250–$1,250/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Kelso, WA

$6,965

Monthly in The Dalles, OR

$535

Difference

Home Values

Kelso

The Dalles

$380K

Median Value

$379K

↑ +0.2%

YoY Change

↑ +1.9%

↑ +26.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +28.5%

Calculate payment - Kelso Calculate payment - The Dalles

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $15.5K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$1,293

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

10.3%

Rate difference

Kelso, WA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Washington State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

The Dalles, OR

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Oregon State Tax

Effective: 10.3%

$15.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 35.0%

$52.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,123/month

$97.5K

Additional Tax Information

Kelso, WA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.2%

Property Tax:0.9%

The Dalles, OR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Kelso

The Dalles

35 Good

Air Quality

35 Good

85%

Good Air Days

85%

98 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🫨

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

9 days

Heat Days >95°F

9 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

9 days

Heat Days >95°F

9 days

Before moving from Kelso, WA to The Dalles, OR

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in The Dalles, OR for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Kelso, WA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Kelso to The Dalles moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to The Dalles, OR by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Kelso, WA vs The Dalles, OR

How do the cost estimates for Kelso, WA and The Dalles, OR compare?

The Dalles, OR has a modeled overall cost index 8.0% lower than Kelso, WA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Kelso, WA, the model estimates $143,581 in The Dalles, OR. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Kelso, WA and The Dalles, OR?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,440/month in Kelso, WA and $1,550/month in The Dalles, OR. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Washington and Oregon on TaxTakeHome.com