on $100k a year, leaving Chattanooga

change
Portland, OR cityscape

swapping out of chattanooga

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

$986

pricier each month than Chattanooga

A real premium for Portland. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

17% more expensive than Chattanooga(vs $1,524/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$729/mo more in state tax than Chattanooga

vs 0% in Chattanooga

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$986 less than Chattanooga

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

04a house here

$562k

75% more expensive than Chattanooga

vs $322k in Chattanooga

05metro size

2.5M

vs 580k in Chattanooga

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Chattanooga keeps to 167 pleasant days a year.

A month here packs 5.3× the events of Chattanooga.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

26% higher than Chattanooga

vs 69/100 in Chattanooga

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

·walk score®

100/100

22% higher than Chattanooga

vs 82/100 in Chattanooga

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

613% more than Chattanooga

vs 8 nonstops in Chattanooga

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