with $100k coming in, swapping out of Charleston

change
Portland, OR cityscape

swapping out of charleston

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

$18

less monthly outlay than Charleston

On paper, Portland and Charleston are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

10% cheaper than Charleston(vs $1,987/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$187/mo more in state tax than Charleston

vs 6.5% in Charleston

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$18 more than Charleston

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

04a house here

$562k

30% more expensive than Charleston

vs $432k in Charleston

05metro size

2.5M

vs 849k in Charleston

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Charleston actually gets more: 212 pleasant days a year.

A real upgrade on things to do: 3.0× Charleston's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

30% higher than Charleston

vs 67/100 in Charleston

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

·walk score®

100/100

9% higher than Charleston

vs 92/100 in Charleston

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

185% more than Charleston

vs 20 nonstops in Charleston

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