same $100k income, fresh start from Honolulu

change
Portland, OR cityscape

if you left honolulu

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

$1,249

under Honolulu, every month

Portland is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

37% cheaper than Honolulu(vs $2,843/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$188/mo less in state tax than Honolulu

vs 11% in Honolulu

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$1,249 more than Honolulu

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

04a house here

$562k

47% cheaper than Honolulu

vs $1061k in Honolulu

05metro size

2.5M

vs 989k in Honolulu

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Honolulu has the edge here, logging 316 pleasant days a year.

On par with Honolulu for events and shows.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

58% higher than Honolulu

vs 55/100 in Honolulu

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

·walk score®

100/100

1% higher than Honolulu

vs 99/100 in Honolulu

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

12% more than Honolulu

vs 51 nonstops in Honolulu

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