Seward, AK vs Shady Cove, OR: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Shady Cove, OR has a modeled overall cost index 26.2% lower than Seward, AK.

Seward, AK · modeled 2BR rent: $1,560 / month
Shady Cove, OR · modeled 2BR rent: $1,530 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Seward, AK and Shady Cove, 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 Seward, AK

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,419/month in Shady Cove, OR

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $132,976 in Shady Cove, OR

Regional cost estimates: Seward, AK uses Anchorage, AK. Shady Cove, OR uses Portland, OR. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 26.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,419

Savings

Annual Impact

$17.0K

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.

Seward, AK

Population:3K

Cost Index:

102.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$372K

Shady Cove, OR

Population:3K

Cost Index:

75.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$407K

Planning the move to Shady Cove?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Seward, AK

The Last Frontier

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Alaska, this city has a population of 3K residents.

💡 Advantage: Alaska has no state income tax!

Shady Cove, OR

The Beaver State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Oregon, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Seward, AK vs Shady Cove, 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	Seward, AK	Shady Cove, OR	Difference	Change
Other	$1,477/mo	$1,086/mo	↓ $391less	26.5%
Groceries	$1,169/mo	$792/mo	↓ $377less	32.2%
All Utilities	$726/mo	$352/mo	↓ $373less	51.5%
Healthcare	$785/mo	$491/mo	↓ $293less	37.4%
Housing	$2,193/mo	$2,388/mo	↑ $195more	8.9%
Transportation	$1,151/mo	$971/mo	↓ $180less	15.6%

Other

↓ 26.5%

Seward, AK

$1,477

Shady Cove, OR

$1,086

Difference

$391

less

Groceries

↓ 32.2%

Seward, AK

$1,169

Shady Cove, OR

$792

Difference

$377

less

All Utilities

↓ 51.5%

Seward, AK

$726

Shady Cove, OR

$352

Difference

$373

less

Healthcare

↓ 37.4%

Seward, AK

$785

Shady Cove, OR

$491

Difference

$293

less

Housing

↑ 8.9%

Seward, AK

$2,193

Shady Cove, OR

$2,388

Difference

$195

Transportation

↓ 15.6%

Seward, AK

$1,151

Shady Cove, OR

$971

Difference

$180

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,180

To$1,050

↓ $130

1 Bed

From$1,190

To$1,230

↑ $40.00

2 Bed

From$1,560

To$1,530

↓ $30.00

3 Bed

From$2,170

To$2,130

↓ $40.00

Seward, AKZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/mo

Shady Cove, ORZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,230–$1,230/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 Seward, AK

$6,081

Monthly in Shady Cove, OR

$1,419

Difference

Home Values

Seward

Shady Cove

$372K

Median Value

$407K

↑ +11.4%

YoY Change

↓ -2.1%

↑ +36.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +15.6%

Homes in Shady Cove are 9% more expensive than Seward

Calculate payment - Seward Calculate payment - Shady Cove

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

Seward, AK

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Alaska 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

Shady Cove, 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

Seward, AK Tax Rates

Sales Tax:1.8%

Property Tax:0.9%

Shady Cove, 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

Seward

Shady Cove

24 Good

Air Quality

35 Good

81.1%

Good Air Days

85%

97 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🫨

N/A

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

Heat Days >95°F

9 days

N/A

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

Heat Days >95°F

9 days

Before moving from Seward, AK to Shady Cove, OR

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Shady Cove, OR for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Seward, AK. 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 Seward to Shady Cove moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Seward, AK vs Shady Cove, OR

How do the cost estimates for Seward, AK and Shady Cove, OR compare?

Shady Cove, OR has a modeled overall cost index 26.2% lower than Seward, AK. 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 Seward, AK, the model estimates $132,976 in Shady Cove, 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 Seward, AK and Shady Cove, OR?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,560/month in Seward, AK and $1,530/month in Shady Cove, 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 Alaska and Oregon on TaxTakeHome.com