$100k salary, packing up from Duluth

change
Portland, OR cityscape

instead of duluth

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

$297

the monthly cost of moving past Duluth

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

14% more expensive than Duluth(vs $1,559/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$75/mo more in state tax than Duluth

vs 7.85% in Duluth

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$297 less than Duluth

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

04a house here

$562k

123% more expensive than Duluth

vs $252k in Duluth

05metro size

2.5M

vs 282k in Duluth

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Duluth keeps to 132 pleasant days a year.

A month here packs 4.1× the events of Duluth.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

19% higher than Duluth

vs 73/100 in Duluth

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

·walk score®

100/100

223% higher than Duluth

vs 31/100 in Duluth

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

1325% more than Duluth

vs 4 nonstops in Duluth

04 · see also

if portland appeals, also worth a look:

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