with $100k coming in, swapping out of Boise

change
Portland, OR cityscape

swapping out of boise

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

$233

the monthly premium over Boise

Portland costs meaningfully more. Whether it earns that back in the day-to-day is the actual question.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

1% cheaper than Boise(vs $1,794/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$246/mo more in state tax than Boise

vs 5.8% in Boise

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$233 less than Boise

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

04a house here

$562k

15% more expensive than Boise

vs $490k in Boise

05metro size

2.5M

vs 827k in Boise

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Boise keeps to 166 pleasant days a year.

3.2× the events of Boise, and the calendar shows it.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

6% higher than Boise

vs 82/100 in Boise

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

·walk score®

100/100

4% higher than Boise

vs 96/100 in Boise

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

256% more than Boise

vs 16 nonstops in Boise

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