with $100k coming in, swapping out of Portland
changea dispatch from
tucson
AZ
32.25°N
110.91°W
Tucson is the first U.S. city named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and the Sonoran hot dogs alone justify the trip. The saguaros stand around like skinny green sentries, the mountains ring the city in every direction, and the sunsets do that thing where the whole sky turns watermelon. The University of Arizona keeps the energy young. The monsoons in July are genuinely thrilling, and the dry desert nights keep the patios full long after dark.
in our guides
the verdict
less monthly outlay than Portland
Tucson is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
a quick ledger.
$1,444/mo
19% cheaper than Portland(vs $1,781/mo)
2.5%
$521/mo less in state tax than Portland
vs 8.75% in Portland
$6,681/mo
$858 more than Portland
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$352k
37% cheaper than Portland
vs $562k in Portland
1.1M
vs 2.5M in Portland
field notes, weather & such.
202
pleasant days a year, in tucson.
Portland only manages 178 of those. Bring the AC. 94 days a year clear 95°, well past Portland's 7.
73% fewer events than Portland. The pace eases up.
66/100
24% lower than Portland
vs 87/100 in Portland
Closest outdoor draw: Saguaro National Park, 16.6 mi.
67/100
33% lower than Portland
vs 100/100 in Portland
16
72% fewer than Portland
vs 57 nonstops in Portland
if tucson appeals, also worth a look:
compare tucson with:
