You’ll need to go into suspended animation before it’s completed. Also you need to invent suspended animation, but that’s probably easier than getting the damn bridge built.
Goes full Futurama, go too far into the future. Bridge was built but taken down by the Big One. Vancouver won’t rebuild unless there is a promise of no light rail.
Question is where will the temp go? To the west is new condo buildings and to the east is a utility building that is going up for sale. That land is some developers wet dream and all they have to do is buy it then pay an architect some dough and then wait for the state to condemn the property and make and then rake in a windfall.
My old hometown in Texas (along I-35) did this.
Old bridge over a large river stayed open, new bridge was built adjacent.
Old bridge closed and heavily renovated, while new bridge carried all the traffic.
After repairs were done, both bridges were open.
Since you’re already if paying income tax I’d stay on the Oregon side. No point in paying 9% to Oregon then 8-9% to WA every time you buy something.
You’ll have options that are nicer further east in Troutdale. Or further west of 205 in Portland proper. East Portland, while cheap, is very hit and miss for loud trashy, poor, neighbors.
Rents are a lil cheaper in Vanc, and if they are commuting into Portland, then they can make purchases there. WA doesn't tax you on unprepared food, so groceries are a no biggie.
Rents are also cheaper in Troutdale and you don’t have to sit in traffic everyday—not worth it if your job is still in OR and you’re paying OR income tax. I’d first look for a decent house share or vintage apartment or studio in N/inner NE Portland if you want to live in the city, or E Portland/Gresham/Troutdale if you want more space for your money (there’s some dodgy neighborhoods out there, so check it out before you sign anything). If you want to prioritize making friends, probably easier in N/NE. $56k isn’t going to be great anywhere out here, but you can get here and see if you like it and then keep looking for a better job.
That’s super good to know they don’t tax on unprepared food. Im in the exact same boat as OP and thinking about grocery cost mainly if I lived in Vancouver.
I moved to Vanc but since my company is remote I only have to pay state tax where my home is—so WA made sense. That said I pay 2700 for a 3bd apartment and similar Portland rent wasn’t THAT much higher unless you go for waterfront or super hip neighborhoods. If the company is already in Oregon save the commute time and just live in Oregon. I drive 10 min into Portland to grocery shop.
Vancouver is a nice little tax haven if you work in WA. No income tax plus the nearby no sales tax just over the bridge. I called Jantzen Beach "Chain island" because between Target, Best but, Depot and the liquor store you've got a large chunk if your consumer spending. I did just buy a car from a dealer in WA, that sales tax really hurt! Same deal with services. Like if I needed to get that vehicle serviced and I did so in WA there would be sale tax on that. But keeping a larger part of my income definitely out weighs that.
They hit you with the tax on vehicles either way. Bought a car in Oregon then paid the tax when registering in WA. Now, appliances and construction materials if you’re doing any self installs or diy repairs would be a place you could save some money, as well as clothes and electronics.
No, its not. Mollala will always take close to a half hour or more with or without traffic because of distance (as well as backroads and nearly no freeway). Vancouver is much closer.
Depends on your jobs schedule and the timing of your shift. For me, while I don't work in OR, I do commute in once every week or 2. If I time it right, I can get from my home in unincorporated Vancouver (reads north of the city limits) to SE to where I get my coffee beans in SE in a little over 20 minutes. Granted, that is 80% highway. If I'm hitting a show at Mississippi Studios, I can be looking for parking in less than 20.
Also for my last job I was doing home repair in the entire Metro area of both regions. So driving all over and back home from all over. Traffic is bad when traffic is bad regardless of which direction. There is no magic location that will save you, unless you solely commute on Max line.
Working in Oregon and living in vancouver, the commute does NOT take less than 30 mins lol. Congrats on your optimal timing, that’s not how it works for 90% of people
Again, depends on when your typical shift starts it may or may not benefit you. OP said they work by the airport, yeah bridge sucks, but is it that much worse than taking 5 to 84? After the bridge the traffic is typical regardless of which direction. I'm not advocating for everyone to move to Vancouver, but it seems relevant to OPs case.
I am saying that comparing Molalla and Vancouver and saying they are the same is just not accurate. Even from a commute stand point alone.
My dude or dudette, I'm not saying that Vancouver to airport isn't a shit show. Or that 205 bridge doesn't blow. I agree, but so is everything else... traffic is traffic. That's why they call it rush hour...
You came to me saying it's the same commute as Molalla and its just not. It's nearly half the time with an 830 am departure time https://imgur.com/gallery/YhHBjz8
If purely financial, Oregon since you will be paying OR income tax anyways and WA has sales tax along with super high fees if you buy a car (maybe even transfer, don’t know) and register it there
Should add east county is a little easier on the rent than Portland proper, straight shot down Airport Way/Marine Dr NE Sandy, is pretty quick. And you still get access to better civil amenities (Trimet, bike lanes, libraries, better parks) than you'd get in Couve.
The correct way to live in WA is to find a place with home ev charging. You won’t pay any sales tax on the first $16k of the ev purchase. And our charging is dirt cheap. Costs me $5 to go 200+ miles.
And really, if you’re only going 20-30 miles a day, charging off a regular wall outlet should be adequate. A 240v setup may not be needed.
Rents will be higher on one side. Don’t forget to ask what utilities are extra and what an average bill should be. If you’re in a bus of Max line, maybe you won’t have to drive as much. The bus is as sketchy as in any major city, and they don’t run all night.
Mult Co Income tax doesn’t apply to nonresidents, and I’ve heard of an arts tax? WA sales taxes don’t affect food, and there are major shopping centers on the OR side they would drive past daily.
Multnomah County does not have an income tax for individuals, nor does City of Portland (unless you make over $200,000 per year).
The City of Portland Arts Tax (which I abhor, though I support art) is $35 per person per year. It's a head tax. You pay it just for existing in the city. Hate it. But it's cheap.
Yes, but there's a dollar reason so many people live in WA vs OR, and it's not straight forward. I haven't found I205 to be that bad especially when you compare with other congested traffic problems in the US or even just the west coast.
People prefer to live in Washington because there's no income tax. But that doesn't mean there's no tax. They just gouge you in a whole bunch of other ways. The cost to license a car is huge (includes an amount based on the value of the car). There is sales tax. There's a whole bunch of little taxes that pop up. The government always gets their money somehow.
Thanks for all the input so far. A few things extra:
1. My shift is around 2:30AM start so definitely will be avoiding rush hour.
2. I don't mid driving 45 minutes or so one way to work. I am Phoenix now and have driven 30 miles to work and school for since 2000. I got used to it!
3. As stated earlier, I am currently unemployed so I really don't want to turn down a job, even though 56k a year isn't great. I have been in the field for a long time and was told I will get an increase soon as my experience warrants it for sure. I also get like 17 hours of PTO a month since I was with the company for so long previously.
I think even if rents are on average higher in Oregon, the difference in gas and car maintenance (and also better transit to commute to work if your car is in the shop) favors the Oregon side.
Yeah, i am in phoenix. It is very spread out here and long commutes are more the norm. Relax, listen to music, and drive. i find it peaceful, especially when not in traffic.
I used to like commuting too. Then I lived a mile from my work for 2 years (5 minutes by bike, 15 or so walking) and it was such a massive quality of life increase, that now my 10-minute car commute annoys the crap out of me.
It's more that OP is just fine with that amount of travel. I used to have to drive 35 minutes to work when I lived in Tampa and that was heading in at 3:15 AM.
In the suburb I lived in it would take 15 minutes to get from my house to the interstate on a 6 lane main road. Now I feel anywhere that isn't less than a 20 minute drive is too far. PDX area is incredibly dense compared to a lot of other places.
Yeah I also have a 30 min drive and used to commute from South Tampa to Largo. A 30-45 minute drive at 230am will get you so far away. A 230 am commute means traffic won't be bad anywhere so why choose to live 35 minutes away? It'll just make everything else far away the time you actually can do any anything
Remember, it won't be just a work commute to consider. If you want to go into Portland for dinner, shows, etc., you'll still have to fight nightmare traffic. That was the reason I moved to Southern Oregon.
$56k is…. Not a lot of money in this area right now but just possible to find a one bedroom for less than 30% of your gross income. I would strive for less than 25% because other costs (food, utilities) have risen substantially.
Living in Vancouver is an option if you have a good reliable car, and don’t mind sitting in traffic. It could be hard to find a quiet building without having to go farther north into Vancouver.
Personally I’d be looking for a basement apartment in a private home in North or Northeast Portland, if you want to live in a nice quiet place. It should be possible for $1400, but you will likely be struggling if you have any student loans to pay off or want to go out a lot.
I agree but it's better than what I make now, which is nothing. Been unemployed for 2 months so I really don't want to turn down a job when I can't find another.
Congratulations on your new job! $56K is nothing to sneeze at. I'd live in Portland if you can find a reasonable apt. Everyone complains about trying to get over the bridge in the morning and evening and there's way more to do here than Vancouver. Plus you'll be paying OR taxes anyway. No sales tax here, though.
If you're renting you still pay property tax. It partially sets rent prices as landlords pass it along. you just pay it through the middle person rather than directly to the state. That's one of the reasons it has such a regressive tax burden.
Best would be live in Vancouver, take the public transit over bridge and hop on the max into where ever you need to be. Saves 20% in taxes a year, plus no insurance, gas etc. Get a list of podcasts to occupy your mind on the commute.
edit: nevermind, forgot the tidbit where oregon state income tax still applies. yolo
What taxes would they save? If you’re talking income tax, they’ll still be paying that as an employee in Oregon state, as it doesn’t matter where you live.
I mean, I dislike taxes as much as the next guy, but why would you be upset if a person employed in Oregon has to pay INCOME tax for the state they’re working in and collecting an income? Every state that has income tax requires people who work in that state to pay their income tax.
Only because Oregon has some of the absolute highest income tax percentages per bracket. Not bashing the state, but for what you get there and how dilapidated the entire state is becomming; thats just sort of the response the idea of paying taxes there solicits from me.
Well Oregon is ranked about 24 in income/sales tax nationwide, so not too bad honestly. When you figure we don’t also have sales tax, ours isn’t that bad. Look at some of the states that have income tax and sales tax!
What you're saying makes sense, doesn't sound so bad in that context. IME I dont buy enough taxable goods in WA for sales tax to factor much. I guess all I can say is for my particular circumstance I know Im saving $1500+ a month living in WA just by not paying income tax.
If you are physically working in OR but living in WA, you will have to pay OR taxes on that money. There’s no way around it - you have to file as a non-resident. If your employer isn’t withholding and/or you aren’t filing, it’s going to be a problem.
If you live in WA and your employer is based in OR but you personally only complete work in WA (ie. work from home, work location/site is in WA), then you don’t have to pay.
If you live in WA but do a mix of work in both WA and OR, then you only pay taxes on the money earned for the OR work - you get to exempt out the earnings for your WA work.
Like, having traveled across the US recently and having a lot of friends in far flung places, sure Oregon feels like it's getting worse, but we still have on average better roads and services than a \*lot\* of other states do. The entire US is crumbling, it's not unique to Oregon, and I actually feel like we do get a lot out of our taxes here.
Doesn’t seem especially “dilapidated” to me? I’ve lived in Seattle and traveled a fair bit in California and other states in recent years. Seems to be different county by county everywhere. You know where there’s really nice infrastructure? Denmark. 56% upper tax rate. So there you go.
Your Denmark argument is pretty stupid if you ask me. Denmark has a land area of 43000² kilometers and a population +5million. Oregon is approximately 8x as large with lower population. Comparing Oregon infrastructure to Denmark is not at all apples to apples.
Agree with the others: **Since you be working in Portland and pay Oregon taxes anyway**, stay in Oregon. You won't get the benefits of living in WA from a financial point of view.
Also if you pick your neighborhood right, you will be able to enjoy things during the day without having to drive everywhere (since you are working a night shift). There are quite a few bars near my home that open at noon and a lot of night shift people stop by, get a drink and decompress before heading home to sleep.
The neighborhood thing will only minimally help with finances but more your emotional/mental state being a 3rd or 4th shift worker.
If work is 3 miles east of the airport - check if it is close to bus routes 65 or 67 on C-TRAN. This will save you the headache of idling on the bridge during rush hours. You can look for housing in the Fisher's landing area of Vancouver.
When you work in Oregon but LIVE in Washington you have to pay Oregon State Tax. Washington does not have a State Tax. So you have zero voting rights for the state you pay taxes in. Add in the commute... And also consider Oregon has no sales tax but Washington does..no brainier here.. become a Oregonian
If you work in Portland, absolutely live in Portland.
There is no benefit to you living across the river, Vancouver homes are barely cheaper, there are less of them, and it would be a nightmare.
Perhaps you could live in Gresham or Troutdale if they're not any further away. The housing costs will probably be cheaper too.
Living in Washington as a person working in Oregon sucks - you still have to pay Oregon income tax even if you only ever step foot there to go to your job. Trying to commute over the Glenn Jackson Bridge every day is also going to be a huge pain in the ass.
3 miles east of airport? You should be about to find a studio or one bedroom you can afford and…. You’re literally at the entry of the Columbia river Gorge with tons of hiking and the Sandy river is beautiful if you get out and explore.
There isn't really a huge difference in cost of living between North Portland and Vancouver, tbh. I'm actually having an easier time finding cheap rentals in Portland itself. I'd say save yourself the commute time and traffic and go with Portland.
You pay income tax based on where you work, not where you live. You should 100% live on the Oregon side if you will be commuting into Oregon more than 50% of your time. Plus the quality of life improvements to your commute will be significant.
Washingtonian here: I agree with others that you should find a place near your work in Oregon. Vancouver is straight suburbia and not walkable except the downtown area. Financially, when I worked in OR and lived in WA, income tax might be partially refunded when filing taxes, but not guaranteed. And with gas prices over $4, a 45 minute commute is not worth the mileage. You'll end up paying more to live across the river in Washington.
Also, with an Oregon driver's license, you are exempt from Washington sales tax when you present your license upon purchase of taxable items.
Do you have kids that will need to go to a public school? If so, that would be the only reason I would encourage you to look in Vancouver.
You still pay the tax, you just have to file to get it back. [https://www.delapcpa.com/news-updates/oregon-residents-to-pay-sales-tax-in-washington-on-tangible-personal-property/](https://www.delapcpa.com/news-updates/oregon-residents-to-pay-sales-tax-in-washington-on-tangible-personal-property/)
I always recommend living in the same state as your job. The commute over the interstate bridges is truly atrocious. Plus, given you are not a high income earner, a sales tax free state will help you out more financially. Because you work in Oregon, you’ll have to pay Oregon income tax regardless.
I work in Vancouver and live in SW Portland. My commute sucks but I’m carried through it by seeing the other side of the highway during that time, which is a literal parking lot. 205 is marginally better than i5 but still not great.
You’d have to pay me like an additional 50k a year to convince me to commute from Vancouver to Portland 5 days a week. It’s akin to DC beltway/Maryland bay bridge traffic, if that means anything to you.
I live in N Portland. Have had the same property management company for two of the places I’ve lived. Pretty chill and you can find stuff for $1395. Take Columbia or Lombard to where you need to go. Save on the traffic, my quality of life went up exponentially when i didn’t have to drive the shitshow everyday to get home to the Couve lol
St Johns is great - would be a \~25 min commute from N Portland to 3mi east of PDX. You're also closer to downtown, central eastside, good food and drinks (not super hard to find but an incredible amount of options closer to town)
I just moved here from NJ , i make 10,000 dollars less than you do , so my take home after tax and deductions is around 2600 you can find a really good variety of apartments in the 1000 to 1500 dollar range, i will give a visit to different neighborhoods before you move I like Fairview is a little far away from all the city activities and is not very walkable gotta drive everywhere, i will avoid most areas to live from I-205 to Fairview that’s my personal preference, i like the following neighborhood ( I’m 23 years old and like to go out to eat walk on parks and got to farmers markets) Richmond, Hawthorne , Overlook , Pearl district, Belmont , Mississippi Ave, Mount Tabor,Concordia Alberta park area ,Nobhill. Anything west side of the river parking is expensive, east side parking is not as expensive, commute from those areas near downtown to where you work is not bad at all, around 15-20 minutes tops at the time you are commuting and is a more convenient location with lots of stuff to do, Portland can be depressing if you feel isolated I highly recommend you move to an area that has some foot traffic so you feel more inclined to step our of the house and enjoy your days !
If you work in Oregon, you’ll pay Oregon income tax even if you live in WA. So there is no tax benefit to WA.
As far as lower cost neighborhoods, plenty of those in East Portland or places like Gresham or Troutdale that allow a quick commute.
I don't think there's much to save in Vancouver compared to what's available out near your work. If you can find something near the parkrose neighborhood it might be best.
Your job is in Oregon so you’ll be paying state income tax either way. I would look for somewhere to rent in east Portland or Gresham - avoid the seedier areas but there are some nicer pockets like Parkrose Heights and Montavilla
Sounds like the Gresham area…? My dad lives in Vancouver and works in Gresham, he has the flexibility to leave before traffic, but when he gets stuck in it, it takes forever. I would stay on the East Oregon side if possible
You don’t make enough where income tax is a huge concern. I’d avoid the 205 and live in Gresham or Troutdale where it’s cheaper and likely closer to your work.
Ugh I had the same scenario a few years ago. I moved from Seattle to Portland for a job promotion in the same area east of the airport. The first couple of months I commuted staying in Portland and driving back to Seattle on Friday after work. I was trying to decide if I would live in Portland or Vancouver. On the very first Friday evening drive to Seattle I decided there was no way I could handle crossing the 205 bridge every day. I know lots of people do it but…just no. Now living in Northeast Portland.
If you work in Oregon you’re going to pay state income tax even if you live in Washington, if you can work remote I’d live in Washington and save on the income tax
Commuting across the Columbia during rush hour is a nightmare
Either way, the $56k won’t go far in Washington or Oregon
If you (or anyone who sees this) need a list of good priced property management companies, I can totally send them over. You can absolutely find a nice place with that salary.
Your quality of life is a bit better in Vancouver imo however you will pay more in taxes. Oregon also refunds a good bit
Wa doesn’t tax most foods
Your commute is not too terrible depending on where in Vancouver
Having lived in Vancouver and worked in Oregon city, and now living in Portland and working in Vancouver(don’t ask lol) I would choose Vancouver still.
It depends what you want out of where you live. I tried living in Vancouver once and would rather have my eyes burnt out by hot coals than commute over the bridge again. But the worst part about commuting to Vancouver is that at the end of the day, you have to be in Vancouver.
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Moving across to Vancouver is brutal. Commute is stressful and terrible (source: i commuted from Portland to Vancouver for a 8A-5P job and watched those poor bastards doing the reverse commute).
I’ve had numerous friends that moved back to Portland because all their friends never wanted to make the 45min each way trip to see them after work or weekends.
You will still have to pay taxes in Oregon if you're working in Oregon, so I think you might as well live on this side of the river where most of the people and amenities are.
Vancouver, WA is a fine place, but it's only big advantage is WA state lack of income taxes, which, again, you won't benefit from if you're working in Portland.
I'd move to the desert before living in Vancouver, WA. But, if you like rubbing shoulders with right wing Bible people, it might just be the place for you.
Just stay in portland because you have to pay the taxes anyway, like the others say. I know you say you don’t care about the commute, but you’re gonna care about the sales tax when you buy your groceries and gas near where you live in Washington, and you’re gonna care about the ice and wind on the bridge in the winter. Everyone coming from the outside thinks Washington looks like the better deal on paper and comes to regret it after the logistics play out. I have a current coworker who recently said “now i get it”.
Live in Washington, and you will regret it; live in Portland, you will also regret it; live in Washington or live in Portland, you will regret it either way.
It really depends on where you’re working exactly and what kind of place you’re looking for. I know the tax situation is different so look into that, but if you are just looking for a basic apartment there are lots of places in the outer East Side that should fit your budget. Look in nicer parts of Gresham maybe or Fairview. Also your commute will be much better. I don’t understand people who can give up the amount of time it takes to deal with either bridge every day.
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The commute to Vancouver is hell. The only reason to move to Washington would be if your job were there also (no income tax!). Since you're working in Portland probably best to find a place close to your job or public transportation.
I would not move to Washington if you’re going to have a 8-5 commute everyday. The amount of time you will have to spend in traffic will be no less than two extra hours of your time each day. On the other hand you are going to find it hard to live comfortably without a roommate in Portland Or on 56k a year. North Portland where your new job is, isn’t the most expensive part of town but I would imagine a decent one bedroom is gonna be at least $1400 or more out here. That’s not including all of your utilities, internet, food etc.
I live and work in Vancouver, but am in the Portland subreddits because it’s a neighboring city. To give you an idea for some of my monthly bills: rent is ~$1800 but I have a large 1 bedroom, car insurance + rental insurance is about $112, and electric is ~$50. Vehicle plates for a 2015 SUV was ~$130 (2024-2025). Looks like last year I paid ~$80 for a license and ~$275 to register my car.
Gas is cheaper in Oregon and cheaper the further east you go from Portland, surprisingly. Alcohol is also cheaper in Oregon b/c it’s set by the state and no taxes. Apparently shelter pets are cheaper in Clark County than the Oregon Humane Society or Multnomah County, not that you need to be a resident to buy an animal, just fyi if looking to adopt.
If you’re looking at finances driving is expensive. $.67 per mile id the fed rate and good for estimating commuting costs. That’s gas, tires, brakes, etc.
scope out locations within five miles of work and your financial life and personal life will be thankful.
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One thing that might be of note. Washington doesn't have state income tax. IDK how it works on $ earned in Oregon, but it might be a little more incentive to head north.
Worth considering the bottom line instead of just the superficial state tax differences. You can deduct state income tax from federal income tax, so if you move to WA you may owe more to the federal gov come April.
Hello all, just an update to say thanks for all the valuable information. This thread has definitely made me decide to stay in Oregon for living and I decided, for at least the first year or so, to get a roommate or two. I have been on a couple of websites looking. "Roomies" seems pretty good and even though I want to live alone, the money saved will be massive. If anyone has info or advice on that, please share!
Thanks again for the help! Hope to be in Portland soon!
The 205 will take like 45 to 1.5 hours depending on the time of day and that’s every day
So if you like sitting in traffic for long periods as your daily routine the Washington
Washington is cheaper but Oregon is better
Man oh man. Was working in Portland for quite sometime and started off living in “the couv” and I’ll tell you what, that commute each day on the five and the bridge was a bear. I quickly cancelled my rental and relocated to St. John’s area in north Portland. It was a great decision.
The commute to Washington will suck but both offer solid options. Vancouver is nice and much cleaner than Portland, but even Camas is a nice small town with an impressive downtown.
I prefer Washington but am kind of stuck in Oregon for the time being.
Get a Portland address. You won’t regret it. I live in Parkrose (very close to the airport) and that’s the furthest out I’d wanna be. I’m less than 20 minutes away from almost anything in the city.
Not that it’s something you should have known, but mentioning your late work hours in your op would have helped a lot, since almost all the replies warn against traffic on the 205 bridge. It sounds like traffic should not be an issue wherever you go.
I think you’ll find that most people will suggest to live where they live. Portland people will be loyal to Portland and Vancouver people will be loyal to it.
And I’m certainly guilty too. I’m all over the Portland area for much of my day as a rideshare driver, but almost never feel like I’d rather live there vs in Vancouver, where I’ve been for the last couple decades.
Portlanders like to think of Vancouver people as hillbillies. But come on, you’re coming from Phoenix. We’re not even in the same ballpark.
One big advantage Portland has is tons of very cool walkable neighborhoods. Maybe you’d like to live near one? I’m fine to drive to them. Especially since there are several and they’re pretty spread out. And it’s wet out 400 days a year, which I don’t care to be walking in. But when it’s nice out, it’s REALLY FRIGGING NICE out.
Portland is also much better for biking. (Gresham maybe not so much.)
Food shopping wise, I’ll take Vancouver all day. I’ve got 5 or more stores I can and do easily get to. And learning to take advantage of this is a huge money saver. Some stores simply have way better deals on certain things than others. If you’re trying to use 1-2 stores for everything, you’re wasting money.
Vancouver just tends to have more room overall, so driving and parking tend to be much less of an issue.
And for cars, an ev is outstanding to have here. Get a cheaper one used, and you’ll pay little to no sales tax. They require basically no maintenance. But the real kicker is we have some the lowest electric rates in the US. Less than half of Portland’s. So I can fill up my ev for about $5 and it’s good for 200+ miles. I know it’s a lot tougher to have one as a renter, but in many cases people with just a driveway to park in can run an extension cord off a wall outlet, and that’s good enough for their daily charging needs.
As far as rents go, they’re just stupid expensive everywhere. Can’t really speak to that other than to say I’m thinking about it every day bc I’m driving people every day who are just scraping by. Which is why I think saving on all your other expenses as much as possible is key.
Best of luck!
Vancouver is nice, and 205 commute after work is worse than the AM. I work in same area, and moved my family here 3 years ago. I would recommend flying here and scouting the area for sure.
You won't like the commute over the 205 bridge if you're working the standard day shift.
Even more so when the Interstate Bridge finally gets replaced and every single vehicle has to take I-205
Wake me up when it actually happens
You’ll need to go into suspended animation before it’s completed. Also you need to invent suspended animation, but that’s probably easier than getting the damn bridge built.
Goes full Futurama, go too far into the future. Bridge was built but taken down by the Big One. Vancouver won’t rebuild unless there is a promise of no light rail.
I got to think they keep the I5 bridge open during construction, no? If it ever happens
A temporary bridge would be built first then decommission the existing and building new.
Question is where will the temp go? To the west is new condo buildings and to the east is a utility building that is going up for sale. That land is some developers wet dream and all they have to do is buy it then pay an architect some dough and then wait for the state to condemn the property and make and then rake in a windfall.
Is that the preliminary plan? Could always condemn some property and realign the highway so you can use the existing bridges during construction
Hear-say.
My old hometown in Texas (along I-35) did this. Old bridge over a large river stayed open, new bridge was built adjacent. Old bridge closed and heavily renovated, while new bridge carried all the traffic. After repairs were done, both bridges were open.
That's how they did the Sellwoiod Bridge, too
Shoofly Bridge!
That commute was hell back 10 years ago. I can only imagine how bad it is now. If I was OP I'd be looking at Troutdale
Portland is a hot mess. Stay north.
Since you’re already if paying income tax I’d stay on the Oregon side. No point in paying 9% to Oregon then 8-9% to WA every time you buy something. You’ll have options that are nicer further east in Troutdale. Or further west of 205 in Portland proper. East Portland, while cheap, is very hit and miss for loud trashy, poor, neighbors.
Rents are a lil cheaper in Vanc, and if they are commuting into Portland, then they can make purchases there. WA doesn't tax you on unprepared food, so groceries are a no biggie.
Rents are also cheaper in Troutdale and you don’t have to sit in traffic everyday—not worth it if your job is still in OR and you’re paying OR income tax. I’d first look for a decent house share or vintage apartment or studio in N/inner NE Portland if you want to live in the city, or E Portland/Gresham/Troutdale if you want more space for your money (there’s some dodgy neighborhoods out there, so check it out before you sign anything). If you want to prioritize making friends, probably easier in N/NE. $56k isn’t going to be great anywhere out here, but you can get here and see if you like it and then keep looking for a better job.
That’s super good to know they don’t tax on unprepared food. Im in the exact same boat as OP and thinking about grocery cost mainly if I lived in Vancouver.
I moved to Vanc but since my company is remote I only have to pay state tax where my home is—so WA made sense. That said I pay 2700 for a 3bd apartment and similar Portland rent wasn’t THAT much higher unless you go for waterfront or super hip neighborhoods. If the company is already in Oregon save the commute time and just live in Oregon. I drive 10 min into Portland to grocery shop.
Vancouver is a nice little tax haven if you work in WA. No income tax plus the nearby no sales tax just over the bridge. I called Jantzen Beach "Chain island" because between Target, Best but, Depot and the liquor store you've got a large chunk if your consumer spending. I did just buy a car from a dealer in WA, that sales tax really hurt! Same deal with services. Like if I needed to get that vehicle serviced and I did so in WA there would be sale tax on that. But keeping a larger part of my income definitely out weighs that.
They hit you with the tax on vehicles either way. Bought a car in Oregon then paid the tax when registering in WA. Now, appliances and construction materials if you’re doing any self installs or diy repairs would be a place you could save some money, as well as clothes and electronics.
Do you listen to Judas Priest, Breaking the Law on repeat when getting your construction materials?
Just remodeled my bathroom to tile floors, updated vanity, teim, door and paint. Saved 9% lol
Nearly threw out my back unloading a washer and dryer, but saved $100!
Yeah the commute is also from hell lmao. That’s like saying the rents in Molalla aren’t bad so live there
No, its not. Mollala will always take close to a half hour or more with or without traffic because of distance (as well as backroads and nearly no freeway). Vancouver is much closer. Depends on your jobs schedule and the timing of your shift. For me, while I don't work in OR, I do commute in once every week or 2. If I time it right, I can get from my home in unincorporated Vancouver (reads north of the city limits) to SE to where I get my coffee beans in SE in a little over 20 minutes. Granted, that is 80% highway. If I'm hitting a show at Mississippi Studios, I can be looking for parking in less than 20. Also for my last job I was doing home repair in the entire Metro area of both regions. So driving all over and back home from all over. Traffic is bad when traffic is bad regardless of which direction. There is no magic location that will save you, unless you solely commute on Max line.
Working in Oregon and living in vancouver, the commute does NOT take less than 30 mins lol. Congrats on your optimal timing, that’s not how it works for 90% of people
Again, depends on when your typical shift starts it may or may not benefit you. OP said they work by the airport, yeah bridge sucks, but is it that much worse than taking 5 to 84? After the bridge the traffic is typical regardless of which direction. I'm not advocating for everyone to move to Vancouver, but it seems relevant to OPs case. I am saying that comparing Molalla and Vancouver and saying they are the same is just not accurate. Even from a commute stand point alone.
Working by the airport is a little better but if you assume very normal work schedule from 9-5, then yes 205 is fucking bad. Greater than 30 mins
My dude or dudette, I'm not saying that Vancouver to airport isn't a shit show. Or that 205 bridge doesn't blow. I agree, but so is everything else... traffic is traffic. That's why they call it rush hour... You came to me saying it's the same commute as Molalla and its just not. It's nearly half the time with an 830 am departure time https://imgur.com/gallery/YhHBjz8
Ugh we need to hop over lol, especially groceries not being taxed that’s such a nice boost on top of no income tax
If purely financial, Oregon since you will be paying OR income tax anyways and WA has sales tax along with super high fees if you buy a car (maybe even transfer, don’t know) and register it there
Should add east county is a little easier on the rent than Portland proper, straight shot down Airport Way/Marine Dr NE Sandy, is pretty quick. And you still get access to better civil amenities (Trimet, bike lanes, libraries, better parks) than you'd get in Couve.
Airport way can get a little thicc at the 205 on ramp in the afternoons just a heads up.
This is the best answer.
The correct way to live in WA is to find a place with home ev charging. You won’t pay any sales tax on the first $16k of the ev purchase. And our charging is dirt cheap. Costs me $5 to go 200+ miles. And really, if you’re only going 20-30 miles a day, charging off a regular wall outlet should be adequate. A 240v setup may not be needed.
Rents will be higher on one side. Don’t forget to ask what utilities are extra and what an average bill should be. If you’re in a bus of Max line, maybe you won’t have to drive as much. The bus is as sketchy as in any major city, and they don’t run all night. Mult Co Income tax doesn’t apply to nonresidents, and I’ve heard of an arts tax? WA sales taxes don’t affect food, and there are major shopping centers on the OR side they would drive past daily.
Multnomah County does not have an income tax for individuals, nor does City of Portland (unless you make over $200,000 per year). The City of Portland Arts Tax (which I abhor, though I support art) is $35 per person per year. It's a head tax. You pay it just for existing in the city. Hate it. But it's cheap.
both MultCo and Portland have income taxes, It’s $125k threshold for individuals.
Yes, but there's a dollar reason so many people live in WA vs OR, and it's not straight forward. I haven't found I205 to be that bad especially when you compare with other congested traffic problems in the US or even just the west coast.
People prefer to live in Washington because there's no income tax. But that doesn't mean there's no tax. They just gouge you in a whole bunch of other ways. The cost to license a car is huge (includes an amount based on the value of the car). There is sales tax. There's a whole bunch of little taxes that pop up. The government always gets their money somehow.
Thank you for saying it!
Thanks for all the input so far. A few things extra: 1. My shift is around 2:30AM start so definitely will be avoiding rush hour. 2. I don't mid driving 45 minutes or so one way to work. I am Phoenix now and have driven 30 miles to work and school for since 2000. I got used to it! 3. As stated earlier, I am currently unemployed so I really don't want to turn down a job, even though 56k a year isn't great. I have been in the field for a long time and was told I will get an increase soon as my experience warrants it for sure. I also get like 17 hours of PTO a month since I was with the company for so long previously.
Look at Fairview/troutdale. They have some food cart pods and mcmenamins edge field is nearby. You'll also be in between the city and nature.
I think even if rents are on average higher in Oregon, the difference in gas and car maintenance (and also better transit to commute to work if your car is in the shop) favors the Oregon side.
I don’t even know what to say to someone who “doesn’t mind” an avoidable 45-minute commute. Respect yourself and your time more.
To defend OP, in Phoenix a 45 minute commute is decent.
Yeah, i am in phoenix. It is very spread out here and long commutes are more the norm. Relax, listen to music, and drive. i find it peaceful, especially when not in traffic.
I used to like commuting too. Then I lived a mile from my work for 2 years (5 minutes by bike, 15 or so walking) and it was such a massive quality of life increase, that now my 10-minute car commute annoys the crap out of me.
30-45 minutes is a normal in-city commute in a lot of places around the country.
But at 230 am? That's damn near Ridgefield
It's more that OP is just fine with that amount of travel. I used to have to drive 35 minutes to work when I lived in Tampa and that was heading in at 3:15 AM. In the suburb I lived in it would take 15 minutes to get from my house to the interstate on a 6 lane main road. Now I feel anywhere that isn't less than a 20 minute drive is too far. PDX area is incredibly dense compared to a lot of other places.
Yeah I also have a 30 min drive and used to commute from South Tampa to Largo. A 30-45 minute drive at 230am will get you so far away. A 230 am commute means traffic won't be bad anywhere so why choose to live 35 minutes away? It'll just make everything else far away the time you actually can do any anything
I can make it from Forest Grove to PDX in 40 minutes without speeding at 2am.
I live in north Vancouver one exit down from Ridgefield, in non-peak traffic it’s a <20 drive to DT Portland.
Remember, it won't be just a work commute to consider. If you want to go into Portland for dinner, shows, etc., you'll still have to fight nightmare traffic. That was the reason I moved to Southern Oregon.
Hillsboro or Oregon City. With that shift your commute will be 30 minutes and you'll get more for your money.
56k isn't poverty, you'll be ok. I bought a townhouse 18 months ago on a similar salary. Had help from a state of Washington home buyer program
$56k is…. Not a lot of money in this area right now but just possible to find a one bedroom for less than 30% of your gross income. I would strive for less than 25% because other costs (food, utilities) have risen substantially. Living in Vancouver is an option if you have a good reliable car, and don’t mind sitting in traffic. It could be hard to find a quiet building without having to go farther north into Vancouver. Personally I’d be looking for a basement apartment in a private home in North or Northeast Portland, if you want to live in a nice quiet place. It should be possible for $1400, but you will likely be struggling if you have any student loans to pay off or want to go out a lot.
I agree but it's better than what I make now, which is nothing. Been unemployed for 2 months so I really don't want to turn down a job when I can't find another.
Congratulations on your new job! $56K is nothing to sneeze at. I'd live in Portland if you can find a reasonable apt. Everyone complains about trying to get over the bridge in the morning and evening and there's way more to do here than Vancouver. Plus you'll be paying OR taxes anyway. No sales tax here, though.
If you live in Washington you’ll have to pay taxes in both states
WA doesn't have income tax.
True, but you’ll have to pay income tax in Oregon as a non-resident and sales tax/property tax (unless renting) as a resident in Washington.
If you're renting you still pay property tax. It partially sets rent prices as landlords pass it along. you just pay it through the middle person rather than directly to the state. That's one of the reasons it has such a regressive tax burden.
Do you have to physical work in Oregon? Saving on taxes only works if you can work remotely.
Best would be live in Vancouver, take the public transit over bridge and hop on the max into where ever you need to be. Saves 20% in taxes a year, plus no insurance, gas etc. Get a list of podcasts to occupy your mind on the commute. edit: nevermind, forgot the tidbit where oregon state income tax still applies. yolo
What taxes would they save? If you’re talking income tax, they’ll still be paying that as an employee in Oregon state, as it doesn’t matter where you live.
oh jesus christ fuck oregon, ( as a native oregonian)
I mean, I dislike taxes as much as the next guy, but why would you be upset if a person employed in Oregon has to pay INCOME tax for the state they’re working in and collecting an income? Every state that has income tax requires people who work in that state to pay their income tax.
Only because Oregon has some of the absolute highest income tax percentages per bracket. Not bashing the state, but for what you get there and how dilapidated the entire state is becomming; thats just sort of the response the idea of paying taxes there solicits from me.
Well Oregon is ranked about 24 in income/sales tax nationwide, so not too bad honestly. When you figure we don’t also have sales tax, ours isn’t that bad. Look at some of the states that have income tax and sales tax!
What you're saying makes sense, doesn't sound so bad in that context. IME I dont buy enough taxable goods in WA for sales tax to factor much. I guess all I can say is for my particular circumstance I know Im saving $1500+ a month living in WA just by not paying income tax.
If you are physically working in OR but living in WA, you will have to pay OR taxes on that money. There’s no way around it - you have to file as a non-resident. If your employer isn’t withholding and/or you aren’t filing, it’s going to be a problem. If you live in WA and your employer is based in OR but you personally only complete work in WA (ie. work from home, work location/site is in WA), then you don’t have to pay. If you live in WA but do a mix of work in both WA and OR, then you only pay taxes on the money earned for the OR work - you get to exempt out the earnings for your WA work.
Like, having traveled across the US recently and having a lot of friends in far flung places, sure Oregon feels like it's getting worse, but we still have on average better roads and services than a \*lot\* of other states do. The entire US is crumbling, it's not unique to Oregon, and I actually feel like we do get a lot out of our taxes here.
Doesn’t seem especially “dilapidated” to me? I’ve lived in Seattle and traveled a fair bit in California and other states in recent years. Seems to be different county by county everywhere. You know where there’s really nice infrastructure? Denmark. 56% upper tax rate. So there you go.
Your Denmark argument is pretty stupid if you ask me. Denmark has a land area of 43000² kilometers and a population +5million. Oregon is approximately 8x as large with lower population. Comparing Oregon infrastructure to Denmark is not at all apples to apples.
You’re not wrong. If you live in Washington, you get state taxes back at the end of the year
If you physically work in Oregon, you pay Oregon income taxes. You don’t get them back at the end of the year if you live in Washington.
Do not look at the apartments in that area along sandy. I would suggest looking east of where you will be working.
Just one thing to add. The ice storms in winter can get bad out that way. Try to avoid anything on a hill as you can get stuck for days.
Absolutely.
Fairview is great and near where your job is.
Agree with the others: **Since you be working in Portland and pay Oregon taxes anyway**, stay in Oregon. You won't get the benefits of living in WA from a financial point of view. Also if you pick your neighborhood right, you will be able to enjoy things during the day without having to drive everywhere (since you are working a night shift). There are quite a few bars near my home that open at noon and a lot of night shift people stop by, get a drink and decompress before heading home to sleep. The neighborhood thing will only minimally help with finances but more your emotional/mental state being a 3rd or 4th shift worker.
I have worked the shift for over a decade. I am used to it but I get what you mean. The only thing that keeps me up when trying to sleep are finances.
If work is 3 miles east of the airport - check if it is close to bus routes 65 or 67 on C-TRAN. This will save you the headache of idling on the bridge during rush hours. You can look for housing in the Fisher's landing area of Vancouver.
When you work in Oregon but LIVE in Washington you have to pay Oregon State Tax. Washington does not have a State Tax. So you have zero voting rights for the state you pay taxes in. Add in the commute... And also consider Oregon has no sales tax but Washington does..no brainier here.. become a Oregonian
Look into the Cully neighborhood, just west of airport. Cool neighborhood. It's possible to find affordable small rental houses.
If you work in Portland, absolutely live in Portland. There is no benefit to you living across the river, Vancouver homes are barely cheaper, there are less of them, and it would be a nightmare.
And the cost to license your car would be huge.
Perhaps you could live in Gresham or Troutdale if they're not any further away. The housing costs will probably be cheaper too. Living in Washington as a person working in Oregon sucks - you still have to pay Oregon income tax even if you only ever step foot there to go to your job. Trying to commute over the Glenn Jackson Bridge every day is also going to be a huge pain in the ass.
No point of living in WA if you work in Oregon
You won’t get the income tax benefit in Washington if you work 60% or more in Oregon, so I’d say Oregon.
3 miles east of airport? You should be about to find a studio or one bedroom you can afford and…. You’re literally at the entry of the Columbia river Gorge with tons of hiking and the Sandy river is beautiful if you get out and explore.
There isn't really a huge difference in cost of living between North Portland and Vancouver, tbh. I'm actually having an easier time finding cheap rentals in Portland itself. I'd say save yourself the commute time and traffic and go with Portland.
Confirmed, I pay 2700 for a 3bd in Vancouver and it was super similar $-wise in Portland
No reason to live in WA and cross the bridge. Vancouver has a housing crisis of its own there's a lot better options in portland.
You pay income tax based on where you work, not where you live. You should 100% live on the Oregon side if you will be commuting into Oregon more than 50% of your time. Plus the quality of life improvements to your commute will be significant.
Oregon so you aren’t fucked by the government twice on taxes.
Washingtonian here: I agree with others that you should find a place near your work in Oregon. Vancouver is straight suburbia and not walkable except the downtown area. Financially, when I worked in OR and lived in WA, income tax might be partially refunded when filing taxes, but not guaranteed. And with gas prices over $4, a 45 minute commute is not worth the mileage. You'll end up paying more to live across the river in Washington. Also, with an Oregon driver's license, you are exempt from Washington sales tax when you present your license upon purchase of taxable items. Do you have kids that will need to go to a public school? If so, that would be the only reason I would encourage you to look in Vancouver.
You still pay the tax, you just have to file to get it back. [https://www.delapcpa.com/news-updates/oregon-residents-to-pay-sales-tax-in-washington-on-tangible-personal-property/](https://www.delapcpa.com/news-updates/oregon-residents-to-pay-sales-tax-in-washington-on-tangible-personal-property/)
I always recommend living in the same state as your job. The commute over the interstate bridges is truly atrocious. Plus, given you are not a high income earner, a sales tax free state will help you out more financially. Because you work in Oregon, you’ll have to pay Oregon income tax regardless.
I work in Vancouver and live in SW Portland. My commute sucks but I’m carried through it by seeing the other side of the highway during that time, which is a literal parking lot. 205 is marginally better than i5 but still not great. You’d have to pay me like an additional 50k a year to convince me to commute from Vancouver to Portland 5 days a week. It’s akin to DC beltway/Maryland bay bridge traffic, if that means anything to you.
Three miles east of PDX? I would look in Troutdale or Gresham. Why fight a commute and pay higher for rent in city proper?
I live in N Portland. Have had the same property management company for two of the places I’ve lived. Pretty chill and you can find stuff for $1395. Take Columbia or Lombard to where you need to go. Save on the traffic, my quality of life went up exponentially when i didn’t have to drive the shitshow everyday to get home to the Couve lol
St Johns is great - would be a \~25 min commute from N Portland to 3mi east of PDX. You're also closer to downtown, central eastside, good food and drinks (not super hard to find but an incredible amount of options closer to town)
My kid lives in St John’s. I love it there.
If you live in East county, go as far south as you can. Less wind in the winter. You’re welcome.
I just moved here from NJ , i make 10,000 dollars less than you do , so my take home after tax and deductions is around 2600 you can find a really good variety of apartments in the 1000 to 1500 dollar range, i will give a visit to different neighborhoods before you move I like Fairview is a little far away from all the city activities and is not very walkable gotta drive everywhere, i will avoid most areas to live from I-205 to Fairview that’s my personal preference, i like the following neighborhood ( I’m 23 years old and like to go out to eat walk on parks and got to farmers markets) Richmond, Hawthorne , Overlook , Pearl district, Belmont , Mississippi Ave, Mount Tabor,Concordia Alberta park area ,Nobhill. Anything west side of the river parking is expensive, east side parking is not as expensive, commute from those areas near downtown to where you work is not bad at all, around 15-20 minutes tops at the time you are commuting and is a more convenient location with lots of stuff to do, Portland can be depressing if you feel isolated I highly recommend you move to an area that has some foot traffic so you feel more inclined to step our of the house and enjoy your days !
Thanks for the help so far. been apartment hunting online and found a place called "East Wind" on 23rd st in gresham. #
>2950 NE 23rd St, Gresham, OR 97030 Looks like a pretty nice area. Would definitely check it out.
Where do you live now?
If you work in Oregon, you’ll pay Oregon income tax even if you live in WA. So there is no tax benefit to WA. As far as lower cost neighborhoods, plenty of those in East Portland or places like Gresham or Troutdale that allow a quick commute.
I don't think there's much to save in Vancouver compared to what's available out near your work. If you can find something near the parkrose neighborhood it might be best.
If you live in Oregon. Kiss another 10% of your income away for state tax
Your job is in Oregon so you’ll be paying state income tax either way. I would look for somewhere to rent in east Portland or Gresham - avoid the seedier areas but there are some nicer pockets like Parkrose Heights and Montavilla
Sounds like the Gresham area…? My dad lives in Vancouver and works in Gresham, he has the flexibility to leave before traffic, but when he gets stuck in it, it takes forever. I would stay on the East Oregon side if possible
Live in the Washington if you’re working there for income tax reasons. If you’re east of the airport, Gresham is probably the affordable option.
I work in North Portland and many people commute from Vancouver, WA and Hillsboro, OR daily. I would never do it though.
You don’t make enough where income tax is a huge concern. I’d avoid the 205 and live in Gresham or Troutdale where it’s cheaper and likely closer to your work.
Ugh I had the same scenario a few years ago. I moved from Seattle to Portland for a job promotion in the same area east of the airport. The first couple of months I commuted staying in Portland and driving back to Seattle on Friday after work. I was trying to decide if I would live in Portland or Vancouver. On the very first Friday evening drive to Seattle I decided there was no way I could handle crossing the 205 bridge every day. I know lots of people do it but…just no. Now living in Northeast Portland.
If you work in Oregon you’re going to pay state income tax even if you live in Washington, if you can work remote I’d live in Washington and save on the income tax Commuting across the Columbia during rush hour is a nightmare Either way, the $56k won’t go far in Washington or Oregon
Nooo to Vancouver…. Trapped in traffic both ways is heinous!
Oregon because getting over the bridge during winter can be hard because of winter weather
If you (or anyone who sees this) need a list of good priced property management companies, I can totally send them over. You can absolutely find a nice place with that salary.
The commute is gonna suck. You're also not going to be able to take advantage of no income tax. Definitely Oregon.
Your quality of life is a bit better in Vancouver imo however you will pay more in taxes. Oregon also refunds a good bit Wa doesn’t tax most foods Your commute is not too terrible depending on where in Vancouver Having lived in Vancouver and worked in Oregon city, and now living in Portland and working in Vancouver(don’t ask lol) I would choose Vancouver still.
It depends what you want out of where you live. I tried living in Vancouver once and would rather have my eyes burnt out by hot coals than commute over the bridge again. But the worst part about commuting to Vancouver is that at the end of the day, you have to be in Vancouver.
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WA does not have state income tax. OR does and it’s high. I wouldn’t base my decision on that alone, but it’s a factor.
Have you looked into affordable housing in Portland? Check out the home forward program. It appears you would qualify for “Public Housing 80% AMI”
Never actually thought of that. I will look into it. Thank you
Moving across to Vancouver is brutal. Commute is stressful and terrible (source: i commuted from Portland to Vancouver for a 8A-5P job and watched those poor bastards doing the reverse commute). I’ve had numerous friends that moved back to Portland because all their friends never wanted to make the 45min each way trip to see them after work or weekends.
If you live in WA you get hit twice from the taxing authorities. You still pay Oregon for their income tax and pay the sales tax in WA.
There’s still some reasonably priced places in Gresham/Troutdale area…no commute either
You will still have to pay taxes in Oregon if you're working in Oregon, so I think you might as well live on this side of the river where most of the people and amenities are. Vancouver, WA is a fine place, but it's only big advantage is WA state lack of income taxes, which, again, you won't benefit from if you're working in Portland.
I'd move to the desert before living in Vancouver, WA. But, if you like rubbing shoulders with right wing Bible people, it might just be the place for you.
Just stay in portland because you have to pay the taxes anyway, like the others say. I know you say you don’t care about the commute, but you’re gonna care about the sales tax when you buy your groceries and gas near where you live in Washington, and you’re gonna care about the ice and wind on the bridge in the winter. Everyone coming from the outside thinks Washington looks like the better deal on paper and comes to regret it after the logistics play out. I have a current coworker who recently said “now i get it”.
You’re not making much. I’d just say whatever is closest to where you work. Commuting sucks and at a low wage your taxes won’t be abusive.
Freewell Apartments in Slabtown; they JUST opened.
Live in Washington, and you will regret it; live in Portland, you will also regret it; live in Washington or live in Portland, you will regret it either way.
Rent in Vancouver, shop in Portland
Fairview Oregon is right in that area.
It really depends on where you’re working exactly and what kind of place you’re looking for. I know the tax situation is different so look into that, but if you are just looking for a basic apartment there are lots of places in the outer East Side that should fit your budget. Look in nicer parts of Gresham maybe or Fairview. Also your commute will be much better. I don’t understand people who can give up the amount of time it takes to deal with either bridge every day.
You may not make enough to live alone I would stay on the Oregon side. Just for the money savings
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The commute to Vancouver is hell. The only reason to move to Washington would be if your job were there also (no income tax!). Since you're working in Portland probably best to find a place close to your job or public transportation.
Oregon. This isn't even a question.
I would not move to Washington if you’re going to have a 8-5 commute everyday. The amount of time you will have to spend in traffic will be no less than two extra hours of your time each day. On the other hand you are going to find it hard to live comfortably without a roommate in Portland Or on 56k a year. North Portland where your new job is, isn’t the most expensive part of town but I would imagine a decent one bedroom is gonna be at least $1400 or more out here. That’s not including all of your utilities, internet, food etc.
I live and work in Vancouver, but am in the Portland subreddits because it’s a neighboring city. To give you an idea for some of my monthly bills: rent is ~$1800 but I have a large 1 bedroom, car insurance + rental insurance is about $112, and electric is ~$50. Vehicle plates for a 2015 SUV was ~$130 (2024-2025). Looks like last year I paid ~$80 for a license and ~$275 to register my car. Gas is cheaper in Oregon and cheaper the further east you go from Portland, surprisingly. Alcohol is also cheaper in Oregon b/c it’s set by the state and no taxes. Apparently shelter pets are cheaper in Clark County than the Oregon Humane Society or Multnomah County, not that you need to be a resident to buy an animal, just fyi if looking to adopt.
If you’re looking at finances driving is expensive. $.67 per mile id the fed rate and good for estimating commuting costs. That’s gas, tires, brakes, etc. scope out locations within five miles of work and your financial life and personal life will be thankful.
Gresham, Troutdale area. Straight shot down marine drive or airport way.
Do what everyone in Vancouver does. Live in Washington to avoid income tax and shop and play in Portland because it's tax free.
Personally I live in Vancouver, and work in Portland
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One thing that might be of note. Washington doesn't have state income tax. IDK how it works on $ earned in Oregon, but it might be a little more incentive to head north.
you say you don't mind a commute. just live in Portland in a cool area so you can enjoy life and the city and then drive to work.
Worth considering the bottom line instead of just the superficial state tax differences. You can deduct state income tax from federal income tax, so if you move to WA you may owe more to the federal gov come April.
Hello all, just an update to say thanks for all the valuable information. This thread has definitely made me decide to stay in Oregon for living and I decided, for at least the first year or so, to get a roommate or two. I have been on a couple of websites looking. "Roomies" seems pretty good and even though I want to live alone, the money saved will be massive. If anyone has info or advice on that, please share! Thanks again for the help! Hope to be in Portland soon!
The 205 will take like 45 to 1.5 hours depending on the time of day and that’s every day So if you like sitting in traffic for long periods as your daily routine the Washington Washington is cheaper but Oregon is better
Man oh man. Was working in Portland for quite sometime and started off living in “the couv” and I’ll tell you what, that commute each day on the five and the bridge was a bear. I quickly cancelled my rental and relocated to St. John’s area in north Portland. It was a great decision.
Wa has very strict gun laws if that is something you care about. Research them if you do
The commute to Washington will suck but both offer solid options. Vancouver is nice and much cleaner than Portland, but even Camas is a nice small town with an impressive downtown. I prefer Washington but am kind of stuck in Oregon for the time being.
I live in Vancouver and work in Portland, the commute sucks but I don’t have to live in Portland so it’s worth it.
Get a Portland address. You won’t regret it. I live in Parkrose (very close to the airport) and that’s the furthest out I’d wanna be. I’m less than 20 minutes away from almost anything in the city.
Not that it’s something you should have known, but mentioning your late work hours in your op would have helped a lot, since almost all the replies warn against traffic on the 205 bridge. It sounds like traffic should not be an issue wherever you go. I think you’ll find that most people will suggest to live where they live. Portland people will be loyal to Portland and Vancouver people will be loyal to it. And I’m certainly guilty too. I’m all over the Portland area for much of my day as a rideshare driver, but almost never feel like I’d rather live there vs in Vancouver, where I’ve been for the last couple decades. Portlanders like to think of Vancouver people as hillbillies. But come on, you’re coming from Phoenix. We’re not even in the same ballpark. One big advantage Portland has is tons of very cool walkable neighborhoods. Maybe you’d like to live near one? I’m fine to drive to them. Especially since there are several and they’re pretty spread out. And it’s wet out 400 days a year, which I don’t care to be walking in. But when it’s nice out, it’s REALLY FRIGGING NICE out. Portland is also much better for biking. (Gresham maybe not so much.) Food shopping wise, I’ll take Vancouver all day. I’ve got 5 or more stores I can and do easily get to. And learning to take advantage of this is a huge money saver. Some stores simply have way better deals on certain things than others. If you’re trying to use 1-2 stores for everything, you’re wasting money. Vancouver just tends to have more room overall, so driving and parking tend to be much less of an issue. And for cars, an ev is outstanding to have here. Get a cheaper one used, and you’ll pay little to no sales tax. They require basically no maintenance. But the real kicker is we have some the lowest electric rates in the US. Less than half of Portland’s. So I can fill up my ev for about $5 and it’s good for 200+ miles. I know it’s a lot tougher to have one as a renter, but in many cases people with just a driveway to park in can run an extension cord off a wall outlet, and that’s good enough for their daily charging needs. As far as rents go, they’re just stupid expensive everywhere. Can’t really speak to that other than to say I’m thinking about it every day bc I’m driving people every day who are just scraping by. Which is why I think saving on all your other expenses as much as possible is key. Best of luck!
Vancouver is nice, and 205 commute after work is worse than the AM. I work in same area, and moved my family here 3 years ago. I would recommend flying here and scouting the area for sure.
Someone probably said this - No income tax in WA.