Purchasing Power
#5
of 124 cities
#5 of 124
North America
Portland
OR, United States
Salary & Cost of Living
How do salaries and expenses in Portland compare to San Francisco?
Purchasing Power Comparison
An engineer in Portland is 2% 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.
Net Salary
$120,894
-$52K (-30%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 35%
Community Insights
NewPortland 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.
Rankings
Top 4%
Home Affordability
#7
of 124 cities
≈2.4 yrs to buy 80m²
Current value
Net Income
#7
of 124 cities
$120,894/yr
Current value
Housing Affordability
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Portland compared to San Francisco?
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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