Portland Meteo v Seattle Metro real cost calculator

[pnwguy2]

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[CARas2020]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

Portland has become more manageable than Seattle due to a few things they got right before Seattle did. First a public transit rail system was built way ahead of Seattle. Second, they have a far more effective highway/freeway grid, (but a lot of that is due to geography.). Third, the city is not trying to be a major metropolis. This is the opposite of Seattle, a city that wants to be big and important. The mindset is quite different between the two.

Seattle may not of had rail but they have superior bus system. Well okay I can't say for now but when I lived in Seattle I commuted from Everett to Capital Hill every day. Anytime I went to see the Mariners play I rode the bus.

Seattle I think is much higher than Portland. At least in real estate. But those calculators how realistic are they? You can compare both cities on different ones and each gives different information. I moved from Seattle in the mid 90's because Portland was cheaper and Seattle had started to get more expensive. We rented a one bedroom that was tiny (680 sq) and our rent was like $500 a month in Everett. I think when we first moved to Tigard we had a two bedroom for $500 a month

[Scorpion3510]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

One of the most important factors not mentioned that makes a huge difference is your work. For example, if you work remotely, you could live in the greater Portland metro and still actually live on the WA side like many of us do. Then, you get all the benefits of Portland access including shopping tax free while not having to pay state income tax. It's the best of both worlds in many regards. Plus, many Vancouver neighborhoods are as close or closer to Portland amenities like the airport and downtown compared to other neighborhoods further south or east.

However, if you must work in Portland, then your income will likely drop compared to Seattle as a general rule. Companies simply pay less here by and large. So, if your income drops while having to pay income tax, it can be a relative wash financially. Or, it could even wind up costing you more considering the pay cut. So, a lot depends on your job(s) and where they will be located. Will you have to commute further and spend more on gas getting to and from work? Those things all need to be taken into consideration to answer the financial question more accurately.

Since I work remotely, I would have to get a 'really good' offer in Portland to even break even financially. That would include having to start paying OR income tax and gas for daily driving into PDX not to mention added time in rush hour traffic. And most companies don't want to pay a 'relatively' decent wage in line with the current COL while keeping up with inflation. Portland lags behind other mid size to larger cities in terms of pay especially when considering the rise in housing costs over the past few years here. Remember, overall COL is relative to local paying wages unless one imports their job. And that is becoming a more common theme especially post Covid.

Derek

I would be importing a job with the same salary. SO would make the same at the hospital. However, she has to work in OR. I guess we could live in WA but I have no clue how filing taxes would go especially since WA is a community property state.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Scorpion3510

I would be importing a job with the same salary. SO would make the same at the hospital. However, she has to work in OR. I guess we could live in WA but I have no clue how filing taxes would go especially since WA is a community property state.

As long as you work from WA or remotely and its verified via your company HR payroll, you don't have to pay income tax living in WA. That's what I do along with countless other WA residents. So, you save big time there.

Regarding your SO, she will have to pay Portland state tax since she 'works' there regardless of living across state lines. Many living in Vancouver have at least one family member working in Portland.

You would also have to factor in other things like where in Portland the hospital is located in relation to daily commutes from various neighborhoods. Do you like neighborhoods near the hospital or is it in more of a high crime district, run down section or simply not as appealing for a variety of individual preferences/requirements?

The commute will be a significant factor (financial, drive time) and must be weighed against preferred places to live including their local environments.

Derek

[trailtramp]

In checking the difference between OR vs WA in Portland/Vancouver metro is property taxes. Its hard to guage, but it seems like county property taxes in WA are more susceptible to property tax increases in shorter periods of time.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by trailtramp

In checking the difference between OR vs WA in Portland/Vancouver metro is property taxes. Its hard to guage, but it seems like county property taxes in WA are more susceptible to property tax increases in shorter periods of time.

This really depends on a lot of factors including which part of the state (zip code), local assessor ambitions, type of property - standard suburban home vs. acreage property, etc... Do you fly under the radar or stand out like a sore thumb? Our WA property taxes have remained relatively stable even with rising RE values. I'm sure we'll get reassessed at some point. But I've heard others on here complain about getting priced our of their (paid for) homes in taxes. This is very much an individual type situation based on 'many' unique factors vs. across the board.

I don't think those differences (if any) would ever offset paying income tax for working adults. That's a guaranteed hit to one's income by a significant amount especially if in the higher tax brackets. It affects retiree income as well including 401k, pensions, etc... If you're relatively low-income, you get a big break on a sliding sale. Otherwise, the tax man comes calling and has your number! They go for the deep(er) pockets, or what they assume are, for sure.

Derek