same $100k income, fresh start from Madison

change
Portland, OR cityscape

instead of madison

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

$315

pricier each month than Madison

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

6% more expensive than Madison(vs $1,673/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$207/mo more in state tax than Madison

vs 6.27% in Madison

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$315 less than Madison

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

04a house here

$562k

21% more expensive than Madison

vs $465k in Madison

05metro size

2.5M

vs 694k in Madison

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Madison only manages 147 of those.

A month here packs 3.1× the events of Madison.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

30% higher than Madison

vs 67/100 in Madison

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

·walk score®

100/100

14% higher than Madison

vs 88/100 in Madison

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

418% more than Madison

vs 11 nonstops in Madison

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