What Does It Actually Cost to Live in Redmond, Oregon in 2026?
By Diana Pullen | Listing Specialist & Redmond Local, Real Broker LLC
If you're researching a move to Central Oregon, the cost of living question comes up fast. And it should. Moving is a significant financial decision, and the numbers you'll find online vary enough to be genuinely confusing. This post puts the major comparison cities side by side using current 2026 data so you can see where Redmond actually lands.
Spoiler: it's not the cheapest option on this list. But the value story is real, and it's worth understanding the full picture before you decide.
The Monthly Cost of Living Comparison
Here's what a family of four can expect to spend monthly, all in, across the cities we hear about most from people considering a move to Central Oregon. These figures are based on 2026 data from Salary.com and are inclusive of housing, food, transportation, and other household expenses:
San Francisco: approximately $10,300 per month
Seattle: approximately $7,800 per month
Portland: approximately $6,500 to $7,000 per month
Austin: approximately $6,100 to $7,000 per month
Bend: approximately $6,100 per month
Redmond: approximately $6,100 per month
Dallas: approximately $5,800 per month
The first thing you notice is that Redmond sits right alongside Austin and Bend on monthly costs; significantly lower than San Francisco and Seattle, roughly comparable to Portland and Dallas when housing is factored in. That might not be what you expected if you've been hearing that Oregon is expensive.
What You're Buying at That Price Point
Monthly costs tell one story. Home prices tell another; and this is where the comparison gets interesting.
Here are the current median list prices in each of those same markets:
San Francisco: $1,100,000
Seattle: $972,000
San Diego: $825,000
Bend: $840,000
Austin: $553,000
Portland: $539,000
Redmond: $572,000
Dallas: $455,000
If you're coming from San Francisco or Seattle, the Redmond number is going to stop you mid-scroll. You're looking at a median list price that's roughly half of what you'd pay in Seattle and about half of San Francisco; for a city with direct access to Smith Rock, Mt. Bachelor, and hundreds of miles of trails, rivers, and high desert landscape. The lifestyle you're paying premium prices for in the Bay Area or Seattle exists here at a fraction of the housing cost.
If you're coming from Austin or Dallas, the math is closer; Redmond's median is similar to Austin's and about $115,000 higher than Dallas. The difference is what that price buys you. In Redmond, the median gets you a solid three-bedroom home, likely with a larger lot in the 7,000 to 9,000 square foot range, in a city where your backyard is essentially the entire Pacific Northwest. In Dallas, that same price range gets you a comparable home but without the mountains, the trails, or the clean high-desert air that made you start googling Oregon in the first place.
Worth noting: Bend's median of $840,000 is significantly higher than Redmond's $572,000. Same Central Oregon lifestyle, same access to the outdoors, same proximity to Smith Rock and Mt. Bachelor; but Redmond's price point gives you considerably more home for your money.
The Oregon Tax Situation: Two Things Worth Knowing
Oregon has no sales tax. That's real money back in your pocket on everyday purchases; groceries, clothing, vehicles, appliances, electronics. If you're moving from California, Washington, or Texas, this adds up faster than most people expect. On a $50,000 vehicle purchase alone, you'd save $4,500 or more compared to a state with a 9% sales tax.
The other side of that: Oregon has a relatively high state income tax, up to 9.9% at the top bracket. If you're a remote worker earning a California or tech-sector salary, this is worth running through your accountant before you make the move. For most families, the no-sales-tax benefit and the significantly lower housing costs more than offset the income tax difference; but it's worth understanding the full picture rather than being surprised by it later.
What $572,000 Actually Gets You in Redmond
At or near the median list price in Redmond, you're typically looking at a threeto four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in the 1,600 to 2,000 square foot range on a decent lot. New construction is active in Redmond right now, which means there are options at various price points with modern finishes and energy-efficient systems. Resale homes in well-established neighborhoods offer more mature landscaping and larger lots.
What you're not getting at that price point in Redmond: the kind of walkable downtown or dense amenity infrastructure that comes with a larger city. Costco and Target are about 15 to 20 minutes south in Bend. The restaurant scene in Redmond is limited compared to Bend or Portland. If that matters to your daily life, it's worth factoring in.
What you are getting: a genuine small-town community, clean streets, a growing recreation infrastructure including a new community center opening in 2026, direct access to Dry Canyon Trail, and 15 minutes to Smith Rock. Roberts Field, Redmond's own municipal airport, has direct flights to major West Coast cities; convenient for remote workers and frequent travelers. And the mountains, rivers, trails, and high desert landscape that made you start researching Central Oregon in the first place are right here, not an hour away.
Is Redmond Actually Affordable?
Compared to San Francisco, Seattle, and San Diego; significantly yes. Compared to Dallas; slightly higher on housing, comparable on monthly living costs, dramatically different on lifestyle. Compared to Austin; similar price point, different geography and pace entirely.
The honest answer is that Redmond is not a bargain in the traditional sense. It's a mid-range cost of living city with a lifestyle that punches well above its price in terms of outdoor access, community quality, and what your dollar buys in terms of actual home and lot size. The value isn't that it's cheap; it's that what you get for what you pay is genuinely hard to match anywhere on the West Coast.
If you're trying to figure out whether Redmond makes financial sense for your specific situation; your income, your current home equity, what the move would actually look like; that's a conversation I'm happy to have. I'm a listing specialist here, so if you're also selling somewhere before you buy, I can help you think through both sides of that.
And if you decide Central Oregon is your next chapter and you need someone who actually lives here and knows this market; well, I'd point you straight to myself on that one. Slight conflict of interest acknowledged.
Diana Pullen | Listing Specialist & Redmond Local Real Broker LLC | Central Oregon 541.398.5770 | soldincentraloregon.com
Schedule a call: calendly.com/dianapullen-realtor/30min
Cost of living data sourced from Salary.com, 2026. Home price data reflects current median list prices as of 2026 from Realtor Property Resource. All figures are approximate and subject to change. This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice; consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.
