on $100k a year, leaving Cincinnati

change
Portland, OR cityscape

if you left cincinnati

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

$629

pricier each month than Cincinnati

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

15% more expensive than Cincinnati(vs $1,549/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$397/mo more in state tax than Cincinnati

vs 3.99% in Cincinnati

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$629 less than Cincinnati

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

04a house here

$562k

78% more expensive than Cincinnati

vs $316k in Cincinnati

05metro size

2.5M

vs 2.3M in Cincinnati

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Cincinnati only manages 162 of those.

41% more happening than in Cincinnati.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

21% higher than Cincinnati

vs 72/100 in Cincinnati

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

·walk score®

100/100

4% higher than Cincinnati

vs 96/100 in Cincinnati

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

21% more than Cincinnati

vs 47 nonstops in Cincinnati

04 · see also

same energy as portland, different zip code:

see also

albuquerque

$530/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

salt lake city

$515/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

seattle

$317/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare portland with:

AlbuquerqueSalt Lake CitySeattle