on $100k a year, leaving Olympia

change
Portland, OR cityscape

instead of olympia

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

$519

pricier each month than Olympia

You'd pay for Portland. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

11% cheaper than Olympia(vs $1,991/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$729/mo more in state tax than Olympia

vs 0% in Olympia

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$519 less than Olympia

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

04a house here

$562k

6% more expensive than Olympia

vs $533k in Olympia

05metro size

2.5M

vs 299k in Olympia

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Olympia has the edge here, logging 182 pleasant days a year.

·outdoorscore

87/100

9% higher than Olympia

vs 80/100 in Olympia

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

·walk score®

100/100

14% higher than Olympia

vs 88/100 in Olympia

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

37% fewer than Olympia

vs 90 nonstops in Olympia

04 · see also

same energy as portland, different zip code:

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