$100k a year, no longer in Providence

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Portland, OR cityscape

instead of providence

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

$116

cheaper each month than Providence

Money-wise it's a wash. The case for Portland is everything that isn't rent.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

16% cheaper than Providence(vs $2,127/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$230/mo more in state tax than Providence

vs 5.99% in Providence

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$116 more than Providence

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

04a house here

$562k

7% more expensive than Providence

vs $528k in Providence

05metro size

2.5M

vs 1.7M in Providence

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Providence barely cracks 159 pleasant ones.

5.9× the events of Providence, and the calendar shows it.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

38% higher than Providence

vs 63/100 in Providence

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

·walk score®

100/100

4% higher than Providence

vs 96/100 in Providence

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

235% more than Providence

vs 17 nonstops in Providence

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