$100k a year, no longer in San Diego

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Portland, OR cityscape

next stop after san diego

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

$1,155

less monthly outlay than San Diego

Portland is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

38% cheaper than San Diego(vs $2,890/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$46/mo less in state tax than San Diego

vs 9.3% in San Diego

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$1,155 more than San Diego

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

04a house here

$562k

44% cheaper than San Diego

vs $1010k in San Diego

05metro size

2.5M

vs 3.3M in San Diego

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

San Diego actually gets more: 332 pleasant days a year.

Things to do run about even with San Diego.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

16% higher than San Diego

vs 75/100 in San Diego

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

·walk score®

100/100

1% higher than San Diego

vs 99/100 in San Diego

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

4% more than San Diego

vs 55 nonstops in San Diego

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