on $100k a year, leaving Ann Arbor

change
Portland, OR cityscape

instead of ann arbor

Portland

or · metro 2.5M

photo: Rufina Rusakova / pexels

a dispatch from

portland

OR

45.52°N

122.68°W

Portland is food carts, bridges, donuts shaped like Voodoo dolls, and a low-key obsession with doing things the hard, hand-made way. The 'Keep Portland Weird' bumper sticker is older than most of the influencers who quote it. Mt. Hood pops into view between buildings on clear mornings, and the bike infrastructure puts most American cities to shame. Coffee here is treated like wine.

metro2.5M

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$74

pricier each month than Ann Arbor

Barely costlier than Ann Arbor. If Portland pulls you in, it's the life it offers, not the price tag.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

14% cheaper than Ann Arbor(vs $2,082/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$375/mo more in state tax than Ann Arbor

vs 4.25% in Ann Arbor

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$74 less than Ann Arbor

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$562k

31% more expensive than Ann Arbor

vs $429k in Ann Arbor

05metro size

2.5M

vs 366k in Ann Arbor

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Ann Arbor only logs 154 pleasant days.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 8.8× more on the calendar than Ann Arbor.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

55% higher than Ann Arbor

vs 56/100 in Ann Arbor

Closest outdoor draw: Mt. Hood National Forest, 40.4 mi.

·walk score®

100/100

3% higher than Ann Arbor

vs 97/100 in Ann Arbor

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

58% fewer than Ann Arbor

vs 135 nonstops in Ann Arbor

04 · see also

neighbors of portland on the map of tradeoffs:

see also

albuquerque

$530/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

cincinnati

$629/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

salt lake city

$515/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare portland with:

AlbuquerqueCincinnatiSalt Lake City