Salary comparison
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop: Los Angeles vs Portland
Portland, OR pays about 17.6% more for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop on paper — $43,410 vs $36,920. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Portland comes out ahead by $6,490 a year in real buying power.
Los Angeles, CA
$36,920
$35,870
$43,040
$17.75
100
$36,920/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Portland, OR
$43,410
$34,440
$50,490
$20.87
100
$43,410/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $6,490 a year (17.6%) in favor of Portland. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Los Angeles runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Portland sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Portland is the better deal by $6,490 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Los Angeles to Portland for this role, the raise needs to beat 17.6% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn more, Los Angeles or Portland?
Portland pays $43,410 on median — about 17.6% more than Los Angeles ($36,920). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Portland. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Portland gives you roughly$43,410 of real buying power versus $36,920 in the other city.