Prepare to get wet in Portland, as the city is prone to heavy rainfall and cool weather. According to Portland ASAP, the city experiences particularly rainy days in the winter, with December averaging 6.1 inches of precipitation. Stock up on wet-weather gear for winter, keeping rubber boots, raincoats and umbrellas on hand to deal with the downpours. However, summers are considerably drier; July has just over half an inch of rain on average.
Expect a challenging employment situation if you're moving to Portland without a prearranged job. According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics, the greater area comprising Portland, Oregon, and neighboring Vancouver, Washington, has an unemployment rate of 10 percent at the time of publication. Economic Development for Central Oregon reports that the city absorbs a high rate of migrants from more expensive urban areas, making it difficult for Portland to absorb newcomers. This means that population growth moves faster than job development.
Become a bicyclist in Portland and leave exhaust-belching cars behind in the City of Roses. Portland has over 300 miles of bike paths, boulevards and tracks. Portland Online states that the city has the USA's highest rate of bicycle commuters, with six to eight percent of locals biking to work. Also, Portland is the only large city in America to be awarded platinum status by the League of American Bicyclists for being bike-friendly.
Set money aside to pay for renting a house or apartment when moving to Portland. Rents in the city average $825 a month for a one bedroom and $965 a month, at the time of publication, according to the Rent Jungle website. The site adds that Portland's most expensive districts are Sellwood-Moreland, the Pearl District and Hosford, with the cheapest areas being Irvington, Neighbors Southwest and St. John's, so scout out locations according to budget and consider a roommate to cut down on costs.
