$100k a year, no longer in San Jose

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Portland, OR cityscape

swapping out of san jose

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

$1,735

under San Jose, every month

In Portland, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

49% cheaper than San Jose(vs $3,470/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$46/mo less in state tax than San Jose

vs 9.3% in San Jose

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$1,735 more than San Jose

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

04a house here

$562k

69% cheaper than San Jose

vs $1796k in San Jose

05metro size

2.5M

vs 1.9M in San Jose

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

San Jose edges ahead with 283 pleasant days.

98% more happening than in San Jose.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

24% higher than San Jose

vs 70/100 in San Jose

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

·walk score®

100/100

5% higher than San Jose

vs 95/100 in San Jose

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

97% more than San Jose

vs 29 nonstops in San Jose

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as portland:

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