Affordable Portland (sales, rental, how much)

[DannyBanany]

With a high minimum wage and what seems to be a low cost of living, is Portland a very affordable place to live overall? Just looking for some thoughts from people who live(d) there.

[subsound]

Portland the city, not really...the outer suburbs are much better. West of the river expect $750-$1,000 per bedroom in some places, East side $500 a bedroom is about the cheapest I can find.

Of course, that's if you can find a job here at the moment, which for minimum wage type jobs expect several hundred at least in the running with you.

[Wicked Felina]

Danny,

Is less than $9.00 an hour a realistic wage for people to live on? Absolutely not. Factoring in our near 10% income tax, basic utilities, transportation costs, food, incidentals, etc., you'd be left with minus zero cash.

But heck, greater things have been done. I can only caution you to have a back up plan, like enough cash to get yourself home in one piece, aka Plan B ~ . Are you still contemplating a move with a few of your friends? At least that would be an adventure!

I found this link on the Oregon Humane Society's site. It's very well organized and covers everything from neighborhoods, rental contacts, the largest employers in Oregon (2006), etc. Lots of interesting facts - not all about pets, lol - though I don't know exactly how up-to-date it is.

Portland Oregon and Pets

[DannyBanany]

Thanks SeeBee!
I actually have ruled Portland out for the most part but I always hear about how it's such an affordable and people-friendly town I just wanted some local input. Of course, $9.00 is a very meager wage but when you're just starting out, going to school, and spliting a place with friends it sure beats the $6.50 you get in other places that are even more expensive.

I'm debating between Denver and Minneapolis now and I'm leaning a little more towards Denver. Sure would love Portland though!

[davefr]

Originally Posted by DannyBanany

Thanks SeeBee!
Of course, $9.00 is a very meager wage but when you're just starting out, going to school, and spliting a place with friends it sure beats the $6.50 you get in other places that are even more expensive.

It's a double edge sword. At $9.00/hr. employers have to be more froogle with jobs. That's one reason unemployment is so high.

It really hurts those just starting out.

[Nell Plotts]

I doubt very much that a single person earning $9/hr working even 45 hours/wk would owe any income tax.

[emh]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

I doubt very much that a single person earning $9/hr working even 45 hours/wk would owe any income tax.

Actually they would. $9 an hour for 45 hours a week comes to $21,000 a year. Taking off $9,000 for the standard deduction and 1 exemption leaves a taxable income of about $12,000. Which means they'd owe about $1,400 in federal income tax. Payroll taxes would be another $1,600. Not sure how much state taxes would be.

[roneb]

The State of Oregon routinely dings you for more than the feds. We (married filing jointly, four kids) have owed the feds nothing for three years now, but have had to pay the state every year. This year they want over two grand, even after all our deductions!

[Wicked Felina]

Originally Posted by roneb

The State of Oregon routinely dings you for more than the feds. We (married filing jointly, four kids) have owed the feds nothing for three years now, but have had to pay the state every year. This year they want over two grand, even after all our deductions!

Of course they do. I've never earned as little as I am now and for the first time I owed state taxes last year. I will this year as well - nearly $700. I don't own a house, and claim zero exemptions. Go figure.

Every married couple I know, no matter what their income level, have routinely owed additional Oregon taxes. There is no free-ride in Oregon because we lack a sales tax.

[subsound]

I would give Denver a good shake, I lived there for a long time...not #1 in a good number of categories but it's in the top 10% in pretty much every one IMHO, 300 days of sunshine, dry climate, great mountains, wide range of choices to live in. Kind of bland though, lots of sprawl...however from news reports it seems to be suffering and recovering the economy much better then average.

One suggestion is to avoid I-36 during rush hour if you go, traffic is so bad on that road specifically (things grew up around it and they have yet to upgrade the road) you might try to insert your steering wheel into the side of your head.