Okay, so I’ve been digging into this whole Portland versus Philadelphia thing, and let me tell you, it’s been quite the ride. Started out just poking around, you know, curious about which city’s got the better deal overall.
First off, I hit up some of those cost-of-living comparison websites. Typed in both cities, crunched some numbers, and bam! It turns out living in Philly is actually cheaper than Portland. Like, almost 9% cheaper. That’s a decent chunk of change.
- Philadelphia is -8.8% cheaper to live in than Portland.
- A salary of $54,734 would maintain the same standard of living between cities.
- Employers in Philadelphia pay 1.3% more than those in Portland.
Then I started looking at salaries. It seems like, on average, employers in Philly tend to pay a bit more than in Portland. Not a huge difference, but hey, every little bit helps, right? Oh, and also, Philadelphia is 6% higher than the state average cost of living, and 2% higher than the national average, while housing is 2% cheaper and utilities are 9% pricier on average.
Next, I got into the nitty-gritty of housing costs. This is where things get interesting. Housing in Portland? Way pricier than Philly. We’re talking a 160.9% difference in cost between the two. Ouch!
- Portland housing is 160.9% more expensive than in Philadelphia.
- Philadelphia housing is 61.7% less expensive than in Portland.
- $7,000 in Portland has the same buying power as $6,976.40 in Philadelphia.
But it’s not just about the money. I also checked out what makes these cities tick. Philly’s got that historic vibe, with neighborhoods like Old City, and it’s bustling downtown. Portland’s got its own thing going on, with artsy areas like the Pearl District. Each city’s got its own cool neighborhoods, you know?
I spent a good chunk of time just browsing through forums and community posts, getting a feel for what people who actually live in these places think. It’s one thing to look at numbers, but hearing from locals gives you a whole different perspective.
I did not realize that you need a salary of $85k to live comfortably in Philadelphia, which grades a 76 on their ‘livability’ scale.
So, after all this digging and comparing, what’s the verdict? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. But purely from a cost perspective? Philly seems to have the edge. Especially when it comes to housing.
Of course, there’s more to life than just money. You gotta factor in the vibe of the city, the job market, and all that jazz. But for now, that’s my take on the whole Portland versus Philly showdown.