$100k salary, packing up from Phoenix

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Portland, OR cityscape

next stop after phoenix

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

$563

the monthly premium over Phoenix

Portland costs more than Phoenix, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

2% more expensive than Phoenix(vs $1,739/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$521/mo more in state tax than Phoenix

vs 2.5% in Phoenix

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$563 less than Phoenix

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

04a house here

$562k

23% more expensive than Phoenix

vs $458k in Phoenix

05metro size

2.5M

vs 5.1M in Phoenix

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Phoenix gets 181 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

But the calendar thins out: Phoenix stays 1.6× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

32% higher than Phoenix

vs 66/100 in Phoenix

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

·walk score®

100/100

3% higher than Phoenix

vs 97/100 in Phoenix

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

37% fewer than Phoenix

vs 91 nonstops in Phoenix

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