Compare states
Oregon vs Washington for retirement
On the 8 lines this page tracks, Oregon comes out lower or more retiree-friendly on 5 of them. That is a starting point, not a verdict: your own spending, housing, income mix, and the city you pick still decide the real number.
A green check marks the more retiree-friendly side on that line (lower cost, lower tax, or Social Security not taxed). Lower is not always better for you; these are state averages, not your plan.
Common questions
Oregon vs Washington, answered.
Is Oregon or Washington cheaper to retire in?
On the BEA cost-of-living index, Oregon sits at 103 and Washington at 107, where 100 is the U.S. average. So the same basket of goods tends to cost less in Oregon. Housing and your own budget still decide the real number.
Which has lower taxes for retirees, Oregon or Washington?
Oregon uses about a 7.0% blended retirement-income planning rate. Washington has no state income tax. Oregon's average combined sales tax is 0% and its property-tax planning rate is 0.9%; Washington is 9.5% and 1.0%.
Does Oregon or Washington tax Social Security?
Oregon does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here. Washington does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here.
Where is long-term care cheaper, Oregon or Washington?
In the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, assisted living runs about $82,494 a year in Oregon and $91,200 in Washington; a semi-private nursing-home room is about $201,115 versus $157,859.