same $100k income, fresh start from Birmingham

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Portland, OR cityscape

swapping out of birmingham

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

$687

more expensive each month than Birmingham

You'd pay for Portland. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

27% more expensive than Birmingham(vs $1,407/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$312/mo more in state tax than Birmingham

vs 5% in Birmingham

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$687 less than Birmingham

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

04a house here

$562k

116% more expensive than Birmingham

vs $261k in Birmingham

05metro size

2.5M

vs 1.2M in Birmingham

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Birmingham only manages 171 of those.

A month here packs 1.4× the events of Birmingham.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

43% higher than Birmingham

vs 61/100 in Birmingham

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

·walk score®

100/100

27% higher than Birmingham

vs 79/100 in Birmingham

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

185% more than Birmingham

vs 20 nonstops in Birmingham

04 · see also

cities that play in portland's register:

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