$100k salary, packing up from Boston

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Portland, OR cityscape

swapping out of boston

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

$1,051

under Boston, every month

In Portland, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

43% cheaper than Boston(vs $3,145/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$312/mo more in state tax than Boston

vs 5% in Boston

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$1,051 more than Boston

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

04a house here

$562k

27% cheaper than Boston

vs $771k in Boston

05metro size

2.5M

vs 4.9M in Boston

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Boston only manages 160 of those.

On par with Boston for events and shows.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

23% higher than Boston

vs 71/100 in Boston

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

·walk score®

100/100

2% higher than Boston

vs 98/100 in Boston

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

45% fewer than Boston

vs 103 nonstops in Boston

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