Forest Grove, OR vs Ontario, OR

The cost of living difference between Forest Grove, OR and Ontario, OR is dramatic. Ontario is 49.9% cheaper than Forest Grove, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Forest Grove has a cost index of 118 while Ontario sits at 78, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Forest Grove is $1,393/month compared to $790/month in Ontario — a 76% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ontario is more affordable at $217,500 median vs $464,300.

Median household income in Forest Grove is $81,998 compared to $43,887 in Ontario (+86.8%). While Forest Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Forest Grove spend roughly 20.4% of their income on rent, less than the 21.6% in Ontario.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.5°F vs 53.7°F). Forest Grove receives more rainfall at 35.9" per year compared to 9.5" in Ontario.