08.22.2024

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72º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:20 a.m. | Sunset 8:05 p.m.
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💸 Talkin’ money in the city

Breaking down the cost of living in Portland

Portland's skyline is half in shadow and half illuminated by the sunset. IN the background, dark purple storm clouds catch rays of sunlight.

The US Census Bureau’s most recent data estimate Portland’s population is 630,498. | Photo by @explore_wme

Portland’s population continued to decline between 2023 and 2024, while several metro area cities like Vancouver and Hillsboro grew. Although many factors are at play, we decided to dig into the cost of planting roots in the City of Roses.

The median household income in Portland is $75,149, according to the US Census Bureau. State-wise, Oregon has the 19th-highest median income in the country at $71,562 per household.

The overall cost of living in Portland is 27.7% higher than the national average, and 11.7% higher than the rest of the state.

A graph shows Portland's cost of living compared to Oregon and the US in categories like groceries, health, housing, median home cost, utilities, transportation, miscellaneous and overall. — Healthcare and utilities shake out in our favor compared to the national average, but housing and transportation costs hit hard.
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Screenshot via bestplaces.net

Breaking down the numbers

Hypothetically speaking, if you live in a household that brings in $75,000 annually — according to experts — you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your monthly gross income on rent and utilities. Don’t worry, we did the math for you — your max monthly budget would be $1,875. The average monthly rent for an apartment in Portland is $1,754 — leaving you little-to-no wiggle room.

Meanwhile, if you’re wondering how much you can currently afford to spend on buying a home in Portland, try using SmartAsset’s cost calculator. Factors like your marital status, annual pre-tax income, down payment, and monthly debt, will help determine that figure. According to BestPlaces, the median home cost in Portland is $537,200.

While we’re crunching numbers, let’s also take a look at the chart below to see how Portland’s cost of living compares to that of Bend.

PDXtoday_BestPlaces2024_CostofLiving_BendPortlandComparison.png — Which category surprised you the most? Let us know.
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Screenshot via bestplaces.net

Interested in seeing Portland’s cost of living compared to cities in other states? We played around on nerdwallet’s calculator, where you can search other locations along with your current pre-tax household income to find out what cities you could actually afford to live in.

Local housing projects

Asked

What would you tell someone who is considering moving here about the cost of living?

A. This is a really affordable city to live
B. Prices are reasonable - not exorbitant, not cheap
C. Prepare yourself for sticker shock - it’s expensive

Give your two cents

Events

Thursday, Aug. 22

Levy Hiring Event | Thursday, Aug. 22 | 2-5 p.m. | Dr. Jack’s at the Rose Quarter | Free | Put your best foot forward at this event offering open positions in concessions and retail plus referral bonuses.
Holy Smokes | Thursday, Aug. 22 | 5-9 p.m. | Holy Ghost Bar | Free | Saddle up for this Wild West-themed agave party featuring cocktail and food specials.
Quiz Queens Trivia Night | Thursday, Aug. 22 | 7 p.m. | Leikam Brewing | Free | Round up your friends for a night of hilarity and know-how where you might just win $10 for a particularly laughable answer.
“A New Brain” | Thursday, Aug. 22-Saturday, Aug. 31 | Times vary | The Back Door Theater | Pay what you can | In this moving autobiographical story, a composer cultivates their creativity while also facing their own mortality.

Friday, Aug. 23

MADE Handmade Bike Show | Friday, Aug. 23-Sunday, Aug. 25 | Times vary | Zidell Yards | $22.50-$33 | If you’re stoked on spokes or head-over-handlebars in love with everything about bikes, this event is ride up your alley.
Midland | Friday, Aug. 23 | 6:30 p.m. | McMenamins Grand Lodge, Forest Grove | $30-$69.50 | Country music on the late summer air from this “On The Rocks” group, what could be a better way to start the weekend?
Portland Pickles Championship Celebration | Friday, Aug. 23-Saturday, Aug. 24 | 7:05 p.m. | Walker Stadium | $14-$30 | Meet team legends, join the on-field championship parade, and take a photo with the West Coast League trophy.

Saturday, Aug. 24

Smile Boat Parade | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Columbia River, between Hayden Island + Bridgeton | Free | Head to Portland’s “North Waterfront” for a flotilla of fun.
Summer Brew Fest | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 2-5 p.m. | Mt. Hood Meadows | $18-$43 | Gaze at the beautiful mountain as you guzzle some of the best beers in the PNW.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

Community members may ask why the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project design committee selected the “inverted-Y” as its preferred option, even though 20,000 Portlanders named it fourth-best of six designs. That choice comes with the highest price tag ($45 million more than the alternatives). Final approval is expected Sept. 12. (Portland Business Journal)

Try This

Take a sip and learn at this pop-up + East African coffee tasting with Boon Boona and local roaster Nossa Familia this Saturday. The latter’s Central Eastside cafe will host the free event from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Sports

Janine Beckie’s time with the Portland Thorns is over. The team traded her to Racing Louisville in exchange for forward Reilyn Turner, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft. (KGW)

Festival

Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church will host the 45th Annual Middle Eastern Festival this Sunday. People of all backgrounds are invited to enjoy cultural exhibits, traditional cuisine, choir concerts, artisan booths, and more. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Award

Congrats are in order for Jordan Valls, bar manager at the Cuban-inspired restaurant Palomar, for making the top 10 and final cut for the Best New Bartenders list. Read about his diligent approach to using high-quality spirits and try his Rusty Nail recipe. (Punch)

Weather

We’re set for a cool and wet weekend. While the majority of the precipitation is forecast for this morning, the possibility of rain will stick around through Saturday (when a daytime high of 68° is predicted). (KOIN)

Listen

Joel Klatt of Fox Sports believes Dan Lanning will win a national championship at the University of Oregon in the next five years. See what Locked On Ducks has to say about that prediction.

Wellness

What do you do about depression that just won’t go away? For some, Spravato, a prescription nasal spray, can be life-changing. This efficacious treatment is FDA-approved and offered here in Portland at Active Path Mental Health. Explore more about how it works.*†

Health

Did you hear that? Most hearing aids have one processor. These bad boys have two. They process speech and noise separately, so speech gets clearer and crisper. No wonder 385,000+ customers love them.*

Eat

Looking to dine out this weekend? According to OpenTable, top-loved restaurants this month include Rosmarino Osteria Italiana for food and Clockwork Rose Tea Emporium for ambience.*

†Please note: Legalities in your state may vary. PDXtoday advises consumers to consult a physician before trying new products and to always read a company’s and/or product’s full terms and conditions. The information about providers and services contained in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by PDXtoday.

Plan Ahead

💥 Worlds collide at Rose City Comic Con

Worlds collide for family-friendly fun at Rose City Comic Con

Around two dozen people in costumes pose for a photo at Rose City Comic Con.

Cosplay runs the gamut from classic comic book characters to deep-cut and obscure references. | Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday

Can you imagine Deadpool and Captain Jack Sparrow crossing blades, Pikachu hitching an electric ride atop R2-D2, or even a Minion wearing the Infinity Gauntlet? Oh snap.

All of that and more is possible at the multiversal mashup that is Rose City Comic Con, which returns to the Oregon Convention Center from Friday, Sept. 6 to Sunday, Sept. 8.

Here are some of the guests for 2024:

Listen to the Force (or just follow the midi-chlorians) to meet Hayden Christensen and Rosario Dawson, who played Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano in the “Star Wars” franchise.
Double tap for double the fun with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost from zombie cult classic “Shaun of the Dead.”
Other big names include Charlie Cox (“Daredevil”), John Cho (“Star Trek”), and Rhys Darby (“Flight of the Conchords”).

There’s plenty more to see and do, including Artist Alley, Pinpalooza, Drink and Draw, and more. Explore the full programming so you don’t miss a thing.

The Buy

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More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ben

From the editor

Want to know the best thing I’ve eaten this month? It’s easily Bake on the Run, “the only Guayanese food on the West Coast.” Find the food cart at WonderLove and eat dahl, bacalhau, and chana aloo to your heart’s desire.

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