same $100k income, fresh start from Seattle

change
Portland, OR cityscape

if you left seattle

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

$317

more expensive each month than Seattle

Portland costs more than Seattle, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

19% cheaper than Seattle(vs $2,193/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$729/mo more in state tax than Seattle

vs 0% in Seattle

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$317 less than Seattle

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

04a house here

$562k

29% cheaper than Seattle

vs $791k in Seattle

05metro size

2.5M

vs 4.0M in Seattle

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Seattle gets 182 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

52% fewer events than Seattle. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

6% lower than Seattle

vs 93/100 in Seattle

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

·walk score®

100/100

2% higher than Seattle

vs 98/100 in Seattle

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

37% fewer than Seattle

vs 90 nonstops in Seattle

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