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Portland
#7 of 124
North America

Portland

OR, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Portland compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Portland is 6% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Portland compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$185,000
-$88K (-32%) vs San Francisco
Based on 407 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$119,473
-$53K (-31%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 35%

Community Insights

New
7.2/10

Portland presents a polarized reality for software engineers. On paper, it is a financial powerhouse: with a median salary of $187k and housing affordability ranked #7 globally, it offers arguably the best financial "bang for your buck" on the West Coast. However, Reddit discussions reveal a gritty day-to-day experience. The city is struggling with a public image crisis regarding homelessness and property crime, leading to a safety index of just 41.7/100.

Culturally, it remains a haven for counter-culture, foodies, and outdoor enthusiasts. The "Silicon Forest" exists (dominated by Intel and Nike), but most recent transplants are remote workers keeping their Bay Area or Seattle salaries while enjoying Portland's lower cost of living. If you can handle the "Gray" winters and navigating urban grit, the access to nature and purchasing power is hard to beat.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Home Affordability

Top 5%

#6

of 124 cities

≈2.4 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Purchasing Power

Top 6%

#7

of 124 cities

Net Income

Top 6%

#8

of 124 cities

$119,473/yr

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Portland compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$3,633 / m²
63% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Portland to maintain the same standard of living.

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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
26% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Portland

Amazon logo
Amazon
Intel logo
Intel
Nike logo
Nike
Elite Purchasing Power: Ranked #5 out of 124 cities, offering a median SWE salary of $187k combined with housing costs significantly lower than Seattle or the Bay Area.
  • World-Class Food & Coffee: Consistently praised for an incredible culinary scene, from affordable food carts to high-end dining, plus a saturation of micro-roasteries and breweries.
  • Outdoor Access: Unrivaled proximity to diverse nature; residents can reach the Oregon Coast, Columbia River Gorge, and Mt. Hood for skiing/hiking within 90 minutes.
  • No Sales Tax: A significant financial perk that partially offsets other costs, making large purchases (electronics, cars) cheaper than in neighboring Washington.
  • Bike-Friendly Infrastructure: consistently rated as one of the most bikeable cities in the US, with extensive lanes and a culture that supports cycling commuting.
  • Summer Weather: While winters are gray, summers are described as legendary—warm, dry, and low humidity with long daylight hours.

    • The Bad

    • High Income Tax: Residents complain bitterly about the high state income tax (nearly 9% for many tech earners) plus local measures like the Preschool for All tax, especially compared to 0% income tax in neighboring Washington.
    • The Gray (SAD): The weather is a major mental health hurdle; nearly 8 months of overcast skies and drizzle lead to high rates of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
    • Public Safety & Homelessness: A dominant theme in discussions; while violent crime is statistically lower than perceived, property crime, open drug use, and visible homeless encampments impact daily quality of life and safety perceptions (Ranked #102 in Safety).
    • Weak Local Job Market: Unlike Seattle or SF, the local tech scene is described as "stagnant" or "hardware-focused" (Intel/Silicon Forest); most software engineers rely on remote work rather than local employers.
    • The 'Portland Freeze': Newcomers frequently report difficulty making deep friendships, describing the social culture as polite but reserved and introverted.
    • Downtown Decline: Central city areas are often described as "hollowed out" post-pandemic, with many businesses closed and a lack of vibrancy compared to the neighborhoods.

    Moving Here

    Moderate

    Moving here is logistically moderate but socially difficult. Housing is accessible (2.4 years of salary to buy), and the rental market has softened, making it easier to find a place than in 2021. However, the "Portland Freeze" makes social integration slow. For international movers, standard US visa hurdles apply (H1-B is difficult), and there is no specific digital nomad visa. English is the only language used professionally.

    Who Is This City For?

    Remote workers who want West Coast nature and culture at a 30-50% discount compared to Seattle or SF. Also ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize skiing/hiking over nightlife and don't mind rain. Avoid if you are a junior engineer needing a strong local mentorship network, or if you are highly sensitive to visible poverty and overcast weather.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather5.5/10-37% vs San Francisco
    Safety42+6%
    Pollution36-27%
    Events5-94%
    5.5/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    18°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    8°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,341h/yr-721h/yr(-24%)
    Hottest Month High
    28°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    2°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    124/yr+75/yr(+155%)

    Community & Quality

    Portland community pulse

    Portland has 5 Luma events listed.

    94% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Pollution Score

    Top 26%

    #32

    of 124 cities

    35.7/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Comfortable Weather

    Top 32%

    #40

    of 124 cities

    55/100 weather score

    Current value

    Community Events

    Middle of the pack

    #68

    of 124 cities

    5 events on luma

    Current value

    Tax Rate

    Bottom 26%

    #93

    of 124 cities

    35%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 19%

    #102

    of 124 cities

    64/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Safety Index

    Bottom 19%

    #102

    of 124 cities

    42/100

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    2.4 years
    2.2 years quicker than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    0/yr(same as San Francisco)
    Cloud Cover
    55%(vs 34% in San Francisco)