Relocation profile · Federal data
Bend, OR
BEA RPP 103.6 ranks #348 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
- 103.6
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,385
- 2BR rent / mo
- $69,802
- Median salary
- 45.6
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Bend ranks #276 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (45.6/100), with its strongest marks in low hazard and job market.
- #276
- of 387 US metros · Near median
- 4,272,371
- metro-area population
- 335
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,277
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: climate (7/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Bend ranks #276 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 103.6 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,385/mo, median salary $69,802; LiveAbility Score 45.6/100, strongest in low hazard and job market.
Signature: BEA RPP 103.6 ranks #348 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 103.6 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,385/mo.
LiveAbility 45.6/100 puts Bend in the bottom third (#276 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Bend area is 102,030.
Bend vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
46 Top 71% higher than 29% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Bend housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Bend MSA; housing RPP 110.0 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,385/mo.
Bend wages and employment
Bend posts 102,030 total employment with median salary $69,802 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,460 |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,720 |
| Registered Nurses | $135,010 |
| Cashiers | $36,290 |
| General and Operations Managers | $93,660 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Bend area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Bend area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Bend's composite Life Score is 46.9/100 (D), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Bend ranks #276 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 45.6/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Bend - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Low hazard
Low hazard
92 /100
- Job market
Job market
79 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
78 /100
- Safety
Safety
44 /100
- Housing
Housing
40 /100
- Schools 25
Schools
25 /100
- Cost of living 10
Cost of living
10 /100
- Climate 7
Climate
7 /100
What this shows Bend's strongest dimensions are low hazard and job market; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 7/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Bend to
Metros near Bend on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Bend on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Bend cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Bend wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Bend?
Bend runs a $69,802 median salary at a 103.6 cost index, ranking #276 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Bend's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Bend head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Bend
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.