My brother recently left Seattle for Boise. He likes it a lot: lots of outdoor recreation and he actually got a pay raise on top of the cost of living decrease. The one downside: Lack of quality restaurants, especially Thai.

Seattle has become yuppie heaven thanks to the ever spreading effect of Microsoft (as you go east towards MS HQ) and all the Gen Xers who relocated there thanks to Nirvana and “Singles” making Seattle “cool” in the 90s. Those Gen Xers now have jobs and money.

There are no jobs in Portland. Well, that’s not totally true, especially if you have a job that transfers well like nursing. But there are a lot of graphic designers/liberal arts majors working at coffee houses rather than in their intended fields. Also, Portland has strict anti-sprawl regulations which can make finding a home challenging for some, although those used to San Diego pricing will probably be pleased.

Basically, no place is perfect, and you have to sacrifice on something. Personally I feel my ancestral homeland, Minneapolis, would be the greatest city in the world if it just wasn’t so gosh darn cold 5 months of the year!