same $100k income, fresh start from Boulder

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Portland, OR cityscape

next stop after boulder

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

$72

lighter monthly cost than Boulder

Cost barely budges between Portland and Boulder. Pick this one for the texture of the days, not the math.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

20% cheaper than Boulder(vs $2,216/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$363/mo more in state tax than Boulder

vs 4.4% in Boulder

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$72 more than Boulder

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

04a house here

$562k

28% cheaper than Boulder

vs $783k in Boulder

05metro size

2.5M

vs 327k in Boulder

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Boulder keeps to 178 pleasant days a year.

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

87/100

10% higher than Boulder

vs 79/100 in Boulder

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

·walk score®

100/100

19% higher than Boulder

vs 84/100 in Boulder

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

66% fewer than Boulder

vs 169 nonstops in Boulder

04 · see also

same energy as portland, different zip code:

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