$100k a year, no longer in Portland
changea dispatch from
grand rapids
MI
42.96°N
85.67°W
Grand Rapids has won Beer City USA multiple times, hosts ArtPrize (one of the world's largest open art competitions every fall), and built itself on furniture (Steelcase, Herman Miller). The Frederik Meijer Sculpture Park is a sleeper world-class attraction. Downtown is walkable, the surrounding farmland is gorgeous in autumn, and Lake Michigan beaches are 30 minutes west. Quietly excellent.
the verdict
less monthly outlay than Portland
Grand Rapids sits well below Portland on cost. Same paycheck, a noticeably lighter month.
a quick ledger.
$1,620/mo
29% cheaper than Portland(vs $2,285/mo)
4.25%
$271/mo less in state tax than Portland
vs 7.5% in Portland
$6,359/mo
$936 more than Portland
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$353k
35% cheaper than Portland
vs $543k in Portland
1.2M
vs 566k in Portland
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in grand rapids.
Portland keeps to 145 pleasant days a year. Winter shows up, though: 50 days below 20° vs Portland's 19.
2.2× the events of Portland, and the calendar shows it.
56/100
21% lower than Portland
vs 71/100 in Portland
Closest outdoor draw: White Pine Trail State Park, 5.4 mi.
97/100
1% lower than Portland
vs 98/100 in Portland
20
900% more than Portland
vs 2 nonstops in Portland
neighbors of grand rapids on the map of tradeoffs:
