Washington vs Oregon
Side-by-side construction cost comparison for 2026. Building a 2,000 sq ft home in Oregon saves approximately $22,000.
More affordable for new construction
Oregon
$211/sq ft vs $222/sq ft — saves $22,000 on a 2,000 sq ft build
| Metric | Washington | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 $/sq ft | $222 | $211 ✓ |
| 1,500 sq ft | $333,000 | $316,500 ✓ |
| 2,000 sq ft | $444,000 | $422,000 ✓ |
| 2,500 sq ft | $555,000 | $527,500 ✓ |
| Labor Index | 1.20 | 1.12 ✓ |
| Material Index | 1.16 | 1.12 ✓ |
| Avg Permit Cost | $4,500 | $3,800 ✓ |
| Median Home Price | $598,000 | $458,000 ✓ |
| Home Price YoY | +2.8% | +1.8% |
| Climate | Marine/Semi-arid | Marine/Semi-arid |
Washington Notes
- ›High costs in Seattle metro
- ›Cascadia Subduction Zone seismic requirements
- ›Strict energy code
- ›Wet climate moisture management critical
- ›Strong union presence
Oregon Notes
- ›Portland metro has high costs
- ›Seismic zone (Cascadia Subduction Zone)
- ›Strict energy codes
- ›Wet climate requires moisture management
- ›Forest fire zones
Cost by Home Size
| Size | Washington | Oregon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $111,000 | $105,500 | Oregon saves $5,500 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $222,000 | $211,000 | Oregon saves $11,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $333,000 | $316,500 | Oregon saves $16,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $444,000 | $422,000 | Oregon saves $22,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $555,000 | $527,500 | Oregon saves $27,500 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $666,000 | $633,000 | Oregon saves $33,000 |
| 4,000 sq ft | $888,000 | $844,000 | Oregon saves $44,000 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $1,110,000 | $1,055,000 | Oregon saves $55,000 |