About

  • About Tech Cities Index
  • Methodology
  • FAQ

Tools

  • Salary Converter
  • LinkedIn Network

Built with ❤️ by Mohamed Oun

Tech Cities Index LogoTech Cities Index
Salary ConverterLinkedIn NetworkAbout
Portland
#5 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 Atlanta?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Portland is 23% better off vs in Atlanta

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

Median Salary
$187,200
+$42K (+29%) vs Atlanta
Based on 442 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$120,894
+$25K (+26%) vs Atlanta
Tax Rate: 35%

Community Insights

New

Portland offers a compelling "middle path" for software engineers: significant cost-of-living advantages over its northern and southern neighbors, paired with a distinctively rich culture.

While the local tech market is smaller—anchored by stalwarts like Intel and Nike plus a smattering of startups—the city has reinvented itself as a haven for remote talent. The data reflects a city with high purchasing power and excellent housing affordability, allowing engineers to afford a lifestyle here that would be out of reach in the Bay Area. However, this comes at the cost of high income taxes and a social environment that has struggled with safety and cleanliness in recent years.

Resident Sentiment

Current residents express a "love-hate" relationship with the city.

Transplants generally rave about the quality of life upgrades—buying a house with a yard, the incredible food scene, and the easy access to the outdoors. Many feel they have "hacked" the system by living here on remote salaries.

However, there is a strong undercurrent of frustration regarding governance and taxes. Residents frequently complain that the high tax burden does not seem to translate into solved social issues, citing visible homelessness and safety concerns as major pain points that have some questioning their long-term future in the city.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Purchasing Power

Top 4%

#5

of 124 cities

Home Affordability

Top 6%

#7

of 124 cities

≈2.4 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Net Income

Top 6%

#7

of 124 cities

$120,894/yr

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

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

Avg. Property Price
$3,608 / m²
16% more expensive than Atlanta
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.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
3% more expensive than Atlanta
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Portland

Amazon logo
Amazon
Intel logo
Intel
Nike logo
Nike

The Good

  • Affordable housing compared to other West Coast tech hubs (Seattle, SF), allowing engineers to buy homes sooner.
  • World-class food and coffee scene that often rivals or exceeds larger cities like Seattle.
  • Incredible access to nature, with the gorge, mountains, and coast all within a short drive.
  • Relaxed, slower pace of life that prioritizes work-life balance over the "grind" culture of the Bay Area.
  • Strong community of remote workers, making it a popular base for those with salaries from higher-paying markets.
  • No sales tax, which helps offset the cost of daily goods and major purchases.

The Bad

  • High state income tax, which can be a shock for those moving from Washington (0%) or other low-tax states.
  • The "Gray" (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is real; the long, dark, drizzly winters can be mentally taxing.
  • A smaller local job market compared to Seattle or SF; fewer large tech HQs means fewer options if you lose a remote role.
  • Visible homelessness and drug use issues that have impacted the feeling of safety and cleanliness in downtown areas.
  • Lower local salaries generally offered by Portland-based companies compared to their Seattle/Bay Area counterparts.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Remote workers who want West Coast nature without West Coast prices.

If you have a secure remote job paying Bay Area or Seattle wages, you will live like royalty here. It is also ideal for the outdoor enthusiast who values proximity to hiking/skiing over nightlife, and the foodie who wants Michelin-quality meals without the pretension or price tag.

Skip it if...

Career climbers who rely on frequent job hopping to boost compensation.

The local market is too small to support aggressive career moves without going remote. It is also a poor fit for sun-worshippers (the gloom is persistent) and tax-sensitive high earners, as the state income tax burden is significant compared to neighboring Washington.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather5.5/10-11% vs Atlanta
Safety41+16%
Pollution36-20%
Events70%
5.5/10TechCities weather score vs 6.2/10 in Atlanta

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 22°C in Atlanta)
Average Low
8°C(vs 12°C in Atlanta)
Sunshine Hours
2,341h/yr-397h/yr(-15%)
Hottest Month High
28°C(vs 31°C in Atlanta)
Coldest Month Low
2°C(same as Atlanta)
Rainy Days
124/yr+12/yr(+11%)

Community & Quality

Portland community pulse

Portland has 7 Luma events listed.

Similar event volume to Atlanta.

Community Events

Top 27%

#33

of 124 cities

7 events on luma

Current value

Pollution Score

Top 27%

#34

of 124 cities

36.1/100

Current value (lower is better)

Comfortable Weather

Top 32%

#40

of 124 cities

55/100 weather score

Current value

Tax Rate

Bottom 27%

#92

of 124 cities

35%

Current value (lower is better)

Cost of Living

Bottom 23%

#97

of 124 cities

64/100

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Bottom 18%

#103

of 124 cities

41.4/100

Current value

SWE Affordability
2.4 years
0.2 years quicker than Atlanta
Muggy Days
0/yr-89/yr(-100%)
Cloud Cover
55%(vs 44% in Atlanta)