on $100k a year, leaving Baltimore

change
Portland, OR cityscape

from baltimore

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

$41

lighter monthly cost than Baltimore

Money-wise it's a wash. The case for Portland is everything that isn't rent.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

5% cheaper than Baltimore(vs $1,868/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$46/mo more in state tax than Baltimore

vs 8.2% in Baltimore

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$41 more than Baltimore

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

04a house here

$562k

36% more expensive than Baltimore

vs $412k in Baltimore

05metro size

2.5M

vs 2.8M in Baltimore

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Baltimore barely cracks 168 pleasant ones.

A real upgrade on things to do: 1.8× Baltimore's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

32% higher than Baltimore

vs 66/100 in Baltimore

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

·walk score®

100/100

2% higher than Baltimore

vs 98/100 in Baltimore

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

21% fewer than Baltimore

vs 72 nonstops in Baltimore

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as portland:

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