same $100k income, fresh start from Portland
changea dispatch from
salem
OR
44.94°N
123.03°W
Salem is the Oregon state capital, smaller and quieter than Portland (less than an hour north), with the Willamette River running through downtown and the surrounding Willamette Valley producing some of the best Pinot Noir in the world. The state capitol is topped by a gold-leaf pioneer statue. Cherry blossoms line the riverfront every spring. Affordable and underrated.
the verdict
cheaper each month than Portland
On paper, Salem and Portland are twins. In practice they live very differently.
a quick ledger.
$1,642/mo
8% cheaper than Portland(vs $1,781/mo)
8.75%
vs 8.75% in Portland
$5,962/mo
$139 more than Portland
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$452k
20% cheaper than Portland
vs $562k in Portland
437k
vs 2.5M in Portland
field notes, weather & such.
201
pleasant days a year, in salem.
Portland keeps to 178 pleasant days a year.
But the calendar thins out: Portland stays 123.0× busier.
69/100
21% lower than Portland
vs 87/100 in Portland
Closest outdoor draw: Mt. Hood National Forest, 46.2 mi.
88/100
12% lower than Portland
vs 100/100 in Portland
0
100% fewer than Portland
vs 57 nonstops in Portland
same energy as salem, different zip code:
compare salem with:
