$100k salary, packing up from Riverside

change
Portland, OR cityscape

swapping out of riverside

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

$758

below Riverside's monthly cost

The gap is real. Portland costs noticeably less than Riverside, every month.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

29% cheaper than Riverside(vs $2,493/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$46/mo less in state tax than Riverside

vs 9.3% in Riverside

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$758 more than Riverside

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

04a house here

$562k

5% cheaper than Riverside

vs $595k in Riverside

05metro size

2.5M

vs 4.7M in Riverside

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Riverside has the edge here, logging 249 pleasant days a year.

1950% more happening than in Riverside.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

26% higher than Riverside

vs 69/100 in Riverside

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

·walk score®

100/100

9% higher than Riverside

vs 92/100 in Riverside

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

307% more than Riverside

vs 14 nonstops in Riverside

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