Can a family of 5 live in Portland on 100k a year (renting, loans)

[cjdjajw]

Hi my husband just told me he knows of a job in Portland (he knows I would love to relocate) and the starting salary is 100k. We have 3 children and don't need to live an extravagant lifestyle but would like to be comfortable. Eat out occasionally and take the kids to fun places, or on modest vacations, or be able to visit my family in PA every other year. He doesn't think it is possible on that salary in or near the city, and maybe he is correct but thought I would get some opinions from people that live in Portland currently. I would greatly appreciate any input!

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Doable, a pretty spartan life for a family, but doable..I know people that do it on less...........

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[karlsch]

The median household income in Portland is just over $50,000 per year, so a lot of families are living on a lot less than $100,000. Only 7.6% of households have an income that exceeds $100,000.

[Nell Plotts]

I know of families that can't manage to pay their bills earning $150,000+.

You will be fine but remember it isn't what you earn but what you spend once your basic needs are met. Assuming you are prudent, and have no unusual expenses, living in Portland for $100,000/year is a slam dunk.

Just knowing of the existence of the job doesn't mean it is yours... the competition will be fierce.

[philwithbeard]

What Nell said.

Its how you live that counts.

Just remember, in city of Portland at least, a family can survive on only one car. Many single people don't own cars at all, and people like my self have gone 11 months with only filling up the gas tank less than once a month; last 8 months every 6 weeks. Portland's mass transit system is that good.

Year round, temperatures are mild, so home energy utility bills will be lower (Oh, a since I don't know where you are moving from, that statement may not be absolutely true.) YMMV.

Phil

[Yankeemama]

Are you buying or renting? Will your kids be going to public schools? The homes in PDX are pretty affordable but I don't know where you are moving FROM. My family and I moved this last year and because the market we moved from was so much more expensive than PDX, we have a much better quality of life here. We live on a salary similar to your husband's salary and we don't commute every day, we cook at home most of the time, and send our kids to a public school so our money goes a long way. I would think you and your family would do just fine here. Good luck to you!

[roneb]

Please forgive me for being snide, but I find questions like this absolutely ludicrous! My situation: Family of six in SW Portland, oldest daughter starting college next month (for which they expect me to take out 7,000 in parent plus loans), and typically earning a little over 50K a year. Hell yes you can live on 100K - quite comfortably! Maybe I'm just a little cranky from being unemployed at the moment, but come on people, lets get real!

[aroseinrain]

heck yeah, roneb!

[btheferrett]

I sure hope so, because my family of 5 is about to live on 50k per year! Wish me luck.

[Mellowseeker]

Im sorry but if you cant support your self on 100K a year you are nothing more than a fool and you are living way above your means. People have to much. I have a family of 4 we do outstanding with way less than 100K.