$100k a year, no longer in Columbus

change
Portland, OR cityscape

if you left columbus

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

$789

more expensive each month than Columbus

Portland costs more than Columbus, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

41% more expensive than Columbus(vs $1,264/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$272/mo more in state tax than Columbus

vs 5.49% in Columbus

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$789 less than Columbus

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

04a house here

$562k

170% more expensive than Columbus

vs $208k in Columbus

05metro size

2.5M

vs 329k in Columbus

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Columbus only logs 177 pleasant days.

435% more happening than in Columbus.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

85% higher than Columbus

vs 47/100 in Columbus

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

·walk score®

100/100

28% higher than Columbus

vs 78/100 in Columbus

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

5600% more than Columbus

vs 1 nonstops in Columbus

04 · see also

neighbors of portland on the map of tradeoffs:

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