What It Costs to Retire in Oregon

The average retiree in Oregon spends about $65,000 a year ($5,417/month), based on BLS spending data for households 65 and older, adjusted for Oregon's cost of living. That works out to a standard retirement number of $1,625,000 under the 4% rule, or $1.86M for early retirees using the more conservative 3.5% FIRE withdrawal rate.

How the numbers below are calculated:
Annual cost = BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024 (65+ household spending) ร— Oregon's cost-of-living index (MERIC Q3 2025).
Standard Retirement Number = Annual Cost รท 0.04 (4% rule, ~30-year horizon)
FIRE Number = Annual Cost รท 0.035 (3.5% rule, 40โ€“50+ year horizon for early retirees)

Oregon earns a C- retirement tax grade from Plootus Research and ranks #41 of 50 states for healthcare quality. Combined with an average annual salary of $69,180 for working residents (median $56,980), that gives a fuller picture of what building โ€” and eventually spending down โ€” a nest egg looks like here.

Oregon Retirement at a Glance

Average annual retirement cost$65,000/yr ($5,417/mo)
Standard Retirement Number (4% rule)$1,625,000
FIRE Number (3.5% SWR)$1.86M
Retirement Tax GradeC-
State Income Tax9.9% max
Social Security Taxโœ… No tax
Healthcare Quality Rank#41 of 50
FIRE-Friendliness Ratingโ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Avg. Annual Salary (working residents)$69,180
Median Annual Salary (working residents)$56,980

Sources: BLS CES 2024 (65+); MERIC Q3 2025; BLS OEWS May 2024; Plootus Research 2026.

Your Oregon-Adjusted Retirement Number

Pre-filled with Oregon's average retirement spending โ€” adjust for your own situation.

๐Ÿงฎ Calculate Your Retirement Number

How Oregon Compares to Nearby States

StateAnnual CostRetirement NumberTax GradeHC Rank
Oregon$65,000$1,625,000C-#41
Alaska$64,000$1,600,000A#35
Washington$67,000$1,675,000B-#14
California$92,000$2,300,000F#8

How Oregon Treats Retirees on Taxes and Healthcare

Oregon carries a C- retirement tax grade from Plootus Research โ€” a middling state on retirement tax-friendliness, worth weighing against its other advantages.

9.9% max

State Income Tax

Oregon's state income tax tops out at 9.9% โ€” among the higher rates nationally. Check current brackets and any retirement-income deductions before you file.

โœ… No tax

Social Security Tax

Oregon does not tax Social Security benefits, one of the factors behind its C- tax grade. Confirm current rules with a tax professional as exemptions can vary.

Oregon ranks #41 nationally for healthcare quality โ€” one of the lower-ranked states, so it's worth researching specific providers and hospital systems in your target city before committing.

Frequently Asked Questions: Retiring in Oregon

Oregon earns a C- retirement tax grade and ranks #41 of 50 for healthcare quality. Average annual retirement spending runs about $65,000, requiring roughly $1,625,000 in savings under the standard 4% withdrawal rule. Whether it's a good fit depends on your priorities โ€” Oregon's state income tax is 9.9% max, and it does not tax Social Security.

Oregon does not tax Social Security benefits, one of the factors behind its C- tax grade. Confirm current thresholds and exemptions with a tax professional, since rules change year to year.

Using the standard 4% rule, retiring in Oregon on its average annual cost of $65,000 requires approximately $1,625,000 in savings. That figure excludes Social Security, which most retirees layer on top to reduce the amount they need from their own portfolio.

At a 3.5% safe withdrawal rate โ€” the more conservative rate recommended for early retirees facing a 40โ€“50+ year horizon โ€” Oregon's FIRE number is approximately $1.86M, based on its $65,000/year average cost. Early retirees should also budget separately for healthcare before Medicare eligibility at 65.

Sources

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024 (65+ age group)
  • Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), Cost of Living Index Q3 2025
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024
  • Kiplinger, Retirement Taxes 2026; WalletHub Best States to Retire 2026
  • Plootus Research 2026 (tax grades, healthcare rank, FIRE ratings)