Redeem now - Jules Rogers took a new job at a Houston newspaper and moved from Portland, Oregon, in 2018.
- She was earning 20% more and living in a more spacious apartment, but other costs increased.
- She and her husband couldn't save, and they missed parts of life in Oregon, so they returned.
In summer 2018, I was busy girlbossing — hard. I was in my mid-20s and working as a full-time reporter for a local newspaper in Portland, Oregon.
But I was unsatisfied. I was still living paycheck to paycheck, and I was in debt. My rent went up every year, and my wages didn't keep pace.
I felt like I needed a boost and moving to a city with a lower cost of living seemed to make sense.
I decided to apply for a higher-paying editor position at a local paper in Houston. My husband, Marshall, and I both had family in Texas, so it sounded like a great option.
I landed the job, and my husband got a new job in sales. We enjoyed lots of things about Texas once we got there, but we ended up missing Oregon and moving back to Portland less than two years later.
Here's why I regretted leaving Oregon and how my budget differed in both states.
Houston pros and cons
Job-hopping was common for 20-somethings at the time and moving felt like a necessary evil because of rising rents in Portland. I accepted a 20% raise, and we moved to the northwest Houston suburb of Spring.
There were immediate differences: I stood out for wearing pants and Nikes to the office instead of flowery dresses like my coworkers did; other women had beautiful, pageant-worthy waves, while I had an angled bob with an undercut.
I admired the style of the women around me, but I missed the casual, comfortable, and outdoorsy clothes people wear more often on the West Coast.
My favorite things about Houston were the radio stations — the rap and country stations were both good. I also adored the Tex-Mex and barbecue, especially the brisket breakfast tacos. Oatmeal and acai bowls are common breakfast favorites in Portland.
Ultimately, my quality of life just wasn't the same
In Oregon, a drive to the coast can be a day trip. In Houston, going to Galveston, which is about 50 miles away, wasn't worth it unless we stayed for a weekend. I couldn't afford to ski the mountains in Oregon, but I could at least visit them and snowshoe. There aren't any mountains like that in Texas.
We visited Houston's arboretum and city gardens in our free time, but they were paved, crowded, and hot. Even in the heart of Portland, hikers can get lost alone in muddy forests.
My daily Houston commute, which could take anywhere from one to three hours depending on my schedule, exhausted me. I thought I was choosing a central location for our apartment, but the scale of Houston was greater than I expected.
Housing is more expensive in Portland
When I was planning the move, I kept my monthly housing budget between $1,100 and $1,200 for a one-bedroom to abate lifestyle creep — or spending more as you earn more — and save more money.
In Portland, our rent stayed closer to $1,400 for smaller and smaller apartments, but I found a place in Houston on the cheaper end of my budget that offered more square footage, a saltwater pool, a gym, and gated parking. I'd only had street parking in Portland, and apartments with garages charged between $100 and $200 a month for one parking spot.
But when I got to Spring, I found that adjacent to my 300-unit apartment complex was a farmhouse property with several — smelly — horses, and a FedEx warehouse complete with 18-wheeler traffic.
I explored the Houston housing market and was tempted by gorgeous, enormous houses with luxuries that aren't common in Oregon, such as guest suites and large laundry rooms. But when you buy a house, you're also buying into the neighborhood, and I couldn't commit to that yet.
My transportation budget increased
My transportation budget went up in Houston. I think I saw one city bus the entire time I was there — and if you want to take a bike ride, you must drive your bike somewhere first.
There are no toll roads in Oregon, and it's known for being friendly to alternative transportation such as scooters, bikes, and walking. In Texas, tolls cost me between $80 and $120 a month. Gas was cheaper than it was in Oregon, but I needed to buy three tanks a month instead of one.
We also had to buy a second vehicle in Houston so we both could commute. In Portland, we shared one car and two bikes, which we often used to get to work.
In Houston, when we looked for something to do, we could decide between buying tickets to rodeos or museums, eating out at franchise or five-star restaurants, and shopping. Oregon has fewer options for shopping but is more suited to fun, affordable outdoor activities.
Though my income increased with the move, I spent more
I spent my higher salary on a second car, gas, tolls, more expensive car insurance, work lunches, happy hours, and networking.
I tried to tell myself I just needed to give it a chance, settle in, and get used to Houston, but I missed the trees, the air, the mountains, the ocean, the vibes, and the culture of the Pacific Northwest.
Ultimately, I quit my Houston job less than two years after I got there. I ramped up my freelance-writing business, and we moved back to Portland.
After renting a studio for a bit, my husband and I closed on a townhome thanks to the low interest rates available in early 2022. We're much happier now back at home.
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