on $100k a year, leaving Reading

change
Portland, OR cityscape

instead of reading

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

$777

pricier each month than Reading

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

21% more expensive than Reading(vs $1,478/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$473/mo more in state tax than Reading

vs 3.07% in Reading

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$777 less than Reading

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

04a house here

$562k

81% more expensive than Reading

vs $311k in Reading

05metro size

2.5M

vs 433k in Reading

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Reading keeps to 157 pleasant days a year.

324% more happening than in Reading.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

34% higher than Reading

vs 65/100 in Reading

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

·walk score®

100/100

18% higher than Reading

vs 85/100 in Reading

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

0% fewer than Reading

vs 0 nonstops in Reading

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