Essentials
- Internet Speed
- High (100-1000 Mbps via Xfinity or CenturyLink Fiber)
- Currency & Banking
- USD ($). 1 EUR ≈ 0.92 USD. Major banks: Chase, Wells Fargo, OnPoint Community Credit Union.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality (sourced from Bull Run Watershed)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon (approx. $40-60/mo for unlimited data)
- Banking for Expats
- Wise, Revolut, or Charles Schwab (for ATM fee rebates)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Zillow Rentals, Furnished Finder (standard 1-bed: $1,600 - $2,400/mo)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and mobile pay (Apple Pay) accepted almost everywhere including food carts
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Kasa, or Sentral (Slabtown)
- Budget Accommodation
- Lolo Pass (East Burnside) - approx. $45 for dorms, $130 for private rooms
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Pearl District or West End for shopping and proximity to Powell's Books
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Inner SE (Buckman/Richmond) for walkable cafes or Mississippi Ave for nightlife
- City
- Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
- Population
- Approx. 650,000 (City), 2.5 million (Metro)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Centrl Office (Pearl or West End) - Day pass approx. $25
- Best Cafe for Work
- Posabilities (NE 42nd) or See See Motor Coffee Co. (Sandwich/WiFi culture)
- Networking Events
- TechfestNW or PDX Startups (via Meetup.com)
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Portland or 'Portland Digital Nomads' Facebook group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft, and Radio Cab
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- BIKETOWN (orange Nike bikes) - $0.15/min; Lime/Bird scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Cannon Beach (approx. 90 mins drive west)
- Top Regional Airline
- Alaska Airlines (Hub at PDX)
- Top International Airline
- Delta, British Airways, Icelandair (direct flights to Europe)
- Highway Access
- I-5 (North/South) and I-84 (East/West)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Union Station (Amtrak) and Pioneer Courthouse Square (TriMet MAX Light Rail)
- Public Transport Passes
- Hop Fastpass - $2.80 per 2.5 hours, $5.60 daily cap
- Regional Travel
- Amtrak Cascades to Seattle/Vancouver BC; BOLT bus alternatives
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University) on Marquam Hill
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The People's Yoga (NE/SE locations) - approx. $20/class; Knot Springs (Social Club/Spa)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- 24 Hour Fitness, Lloyd Athletic Club, or Movement (Climbing gym)
- Laundry Services
- Spin Laundry Lounge (NE Broadway) - Eco-friendly laundromat with a bar/cafe
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, and Caviar
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Portland Food Cart Pods (e.g., Nong's Khao Man Gai, approx $15)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Virtuous Pie (SE Division) or Mis Tacones (NE)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Voodoo Doughnut (Old Town) or Salt & Straw Ice Cream (NW 23rd)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- WinCo Foods or Trader Joe's
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (major logistics hub nearby)
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, New Seasons Market (Local/Premium), Fred Meyer
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Lower Burnside (LoBu) or Central Eastside Industrial District
- Local Brewery
- Deschutes Brewery Public House (Pearl) or Breakside Brewery
- Wine Bars
- OK Omens (SE) or Noble Rot (Views/Rooftop)
- Street Food Stalls
- Cartopia (SE 12th & Hawthorne) or Hinterland (SE Division)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen (Downtown) or Kachka (Russian - SE)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Powell's City of Books, International Rose Test Garden, Pittock Mansion
- Museums & Art Venues
- Portland Art Museum, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
- Historical Sites
- Old Town Chinatown, Shanghai Tunnels (Tour recommended)
- Religious Sites
- The Grotto (National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother)
- Annual Events
- Portland Rose Festival (June), Oregon Brewers Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Alberta Arts District (Last Thursday street fair)
- Theater Venues
- Portland Center Stage at The Armory, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
- Local Markets
- Portland Saturday Market (Waterfront), Portland Farmers Market (PSU Park Blocks)
- Music Scene
- Mississippi Studios, Crystal Ballroom, Doug Fir Lounge
- Street Art
- Artistic murals throughout SE Portland (e.g., SE 10th & Morrison)
- Cooking Classes
- Portland Cookshop (SE Clinton)
- Art Galleries
- Elizabeth Leach Gallery (Pearl District)
- Historic Buildings
- Portland City Hall, Jackson Tower
- Local Heritage
- Native American history (Multnomah and Clackamas tribes context at Portland Center)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Forest Park (one of the largest urban forests in the US)
- National Parks Nearby
- Mount Rainier National Park (approx 2.5 hours); Crater Lake (4.5 hours)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Willamette River Springwater Corridor (21 miles)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Council Crest Park (highest point in the city)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Sauvie Island (Walton Beach) - check seasonal fire Bans
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS Store, FedEx Office, USPS (Main post office on NW Hoyt)
- Tech Repair Services
- Free Geek (Volunteering/Refurbished tech), Apple Pioneer Place
- Table Tennis Spots
- Pips & Bounce (SE Belmont)
- Language Classes
- Portland Community College (PCC) non-credit courses
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Multnomah County Central Library (Downtown)
- Community Centers
- Multnomah Arts Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade (Old Town/Chinatown)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Spirit Mountain Casino (90 mins drive via shuttle)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $288,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $204,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $408,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $288,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $496,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $336,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 6.6% to 7.6% (Oregon State) + 21% (US Federal)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% for non-residents (subject to treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for citizens; residency-based for green card holders
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal) + 9.9% (Oregon State)
- VAT
- 0% (Oregon has NO sales tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, US GILTI and Subpart F rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx. 1.1% of assessed value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Washington County has a transfer tax; Multnomah County largely does not
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No sales tax on purchases; however, high personal income tax