$100k salary, packing up from Knoxville

change
Portland, OR cityscape

instead of knoxville

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

$779

the monthly premium over Knoxville

Portland runs a little pricier than Knoxville. The case has to be about something other than rent.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

3% more expensive than Knoxville(vs $1,731/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$729/mo more in state tax than Knoxville

vs 0% in Knoxville

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$779 less than Knoxville

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

04a house here

$562k

55% more expensive than Knoxville

vs $364k in Knoxville

05metro size

2.5M

vs 947k in Knoxville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Knoxville edges ahead with 189 pleasant days.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 2.9× more on the calendar than Knoxville.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

26% higher than Knoxville

vs 69/100 in Knoxville

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

·walk score®

100/100

41% higher than Knoxville

vs 71/100 in Knoxville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

235% more than Knoxville

vs 17 nonstops in Knoxville

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