If I was to pick up and move to Portland or Vancouver (from Ca), how much $ would I need to get me started?

Question

I'm really contemplating this. I moved from NY state 3yrs ago and really dislike CA.

Answer 1

To add to the previous post --- if you live in Vancouver but work in Portland (many do because there are more jobs in Portland and housing is more affordable in Vancouver), you will have to deal with horrendous rush hour traffic, plus you get stuck paying income taxes on your Oregon job even though you live in Washington.

If you are just starting out here and want to get the full Portland area experience, you will probably be happier living near downtown Portland, or at least someplace really close to the light rail ("MAX") so you can access downtown easily (there are tons of reasonably priced apartments along MAX). Then once you are settled in, explore the area, get your career in motion, etc., you can weigh the tradeoffs of Vancouver or other far-flung suburbs (each with their own pros and cons).

I agree that you'd want to have access to at least three month's expenses to move to another city, and in Portland you're probably talking about $3,000 or so for starters to cover your typical housing/food/transportation going solo. You could cut that down drastically if you can find roommates of course. Good luck with the move, most ex-Californians love it here. The winters are worse than California, but much better than New York, so you'll be fine.

Answer 2

The cost of living is a bit cheaper in OR/WA than it is in CA.
You would want to have enough money to get into an apt and for three months minimum expenses while you are job hunting, unless you have a job going in.

Average rent for a 1 bdrm apt in Portland/Vancouver is going to be around $650-700, plus electricity, cable, etc. Oregon has no sales tax. Washington has no income tax. Many people choose to live in Vancouver and shop in Oregon, though big ticket items you will still have to pay WA sales tax on (like cars, appliances).

Look at the online classified ads in the Portland Oregonian newspaper. Do a search on other newspapers and internet forums for the area. You may very well be able to find cheaper housing that is decent. You might even be able to line up a job.

Good luck.

P.S. The Pacific Northwest is beautiful!! And there is a lot to do in Portland, it's a nice city.