The Dalles, OR vs Cottage Grove, OR: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Cottage Grove, OR has a modeled overall cost index 12.7% lower than The Dalles, OR.

The Dalles, OR · modeled 2BR rent: $1,550 / month
Cottage Grove, OR · modeled 2BR rent: $1,490 / 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 The Dalles, OR and Cottage Grove, 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 The Dalles, OR

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $847/month in Cottage Grove, OR

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $139,841 in Cottage Grove, OR

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

Overall Cost

↓ 12.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$847

Savings

Annual Impact

$10.2K

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.

The Dalles, OR

Population:16K

Cost Index:

105.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$379K

Cottage Grove, OR

Population:11K

Cost Index:

91.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$387K

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The Dalles, OR

The Beaver State

16K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cottage Grove, OR

The Beaver State

11K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Oregon, this city has a population of 11K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: The Dalles, OR vs Cottage Grove, 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	The Dalles, OR	Cottage Grove, OR	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,073/mo	$2,681/mo	↓ $392less	12.7%
Other	$1,398/mo	$1,219/mo	↓ $178less	12.7%
Transportation	$1,249/mo	$1,090/mo	↓ $159less	12.7%
Groceries	$862/mo	$805/mo	↓ $56.83less	6.6%
Healthcare	$535/mo	$499/mo	↓ $35.24less	6.6%
All Utilities	$383/mo	$358/mo	↓ $25.27less	6.6%

Housing

↓ 12.7%

The Dalles, OR

$3,073

Cottage Grove, OR

$2,681

Difference

$392

less

Other

↓ 12.7%

The Dalles, OR

$1,398

Cottage Grove, OR

$1,219

Difference

$178

less

Transportation

↓ 12.7%

The Dalles, OR

$1,249

Cottage Grove, OR

$1,090

Difference

$159

less

Groceries

↓ 6.6%

The Dalles, OR

$862

Cottage Grove, OR

$805

Difference

$56.83

less

Healthcare

↓ 6.6%

The Dalles, OR

$535

Cottage Grove, OR

$499

Difference

$35.24

less

All Utilities

↓ 6.6%

The Dalles, OR

$383

Cottage Grove, OR

$358

Difference

$25.27

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,240

To$1,080

↓ $160

1 Bed

From$1,250

To$1,130

↓ $120

2 Bed

From$1,550

To$1,490

↓ $60.00

3 Bed

From$2,160

To$2,070

↓ $90.00

The Dalles, ORZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,250–$1,250/mo

Cottage Grove, ORZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,130–$1,130/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 The Dalles, OR

$6,653

Monthly in Cottage Grove, OR

$847

Difference

Home Values

The Dalles

Cottage Grove

$379K

Median Value

$387K

↑ +1.9%

YoY Change

↓ -0.3%

↑ +28.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +26.1%

Homes in Cottage Grove are 2% more expensive than The Dalles

Calculate payment - The Dalles Calculate payment - Cottage Grove

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

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

Cottage Grove, 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

The Dalles, OR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

Cottage Grove, 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

The Dalles

Cottage Grove

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 The Dalles, OR to Cottage Grove, OR

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Cottage Grove, OR for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in The Dalles, OR. 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 The Dalles to Cottage Grove moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: The Dalles, OR vs Cottage Grove, OR

How do the cost estimates for The Dalles, OR and Cottage Grove, OR compare?

Cottage Grove, OR has a modeled overall cost index 12.7% lower than The Dalles, OR. 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 The Dalles, OR, the model estimates $139,841 in Cottage Grove, 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 The Dalles, OR and Cottage Grove, OR?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,550/month in The Dalles, OR and $1,490/month in Cottage Grove, 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.