My partner and I both work full time jobs. We share a small apartment. We own one vehicle and it is old, but at least itu2019s paid off.Wages are higher in Portland than in other parts of Oregon, both by law and by necessity. Bikes and public transportation are both easier ways to get around town than driving, so you donu2019t really need a car. Cars cost thousands of dollars a years just in fuel and insurance. Without a car, it is easier to afford the high rents in the city.Groceries, electricity and natural gas are all lower in cost in Oregon than in other regions around the country. Iu2019ve also found health insurance affordable in Oregon since they participate in ACA. About 1/2 of my insurance premiums are covered by the ACA based on earnings of the individual.Jobs are easy to find in Oregon. Both gig-economy and traditional employment is abundant. If you are moving from the Mid-West or South you will want to adjust your wage expectations based on the cost of living in Oregon. In Portland, for instance, tipped employees like servers and bartenders also earn a base wage of $11.25 an hour. Most non-tipped entry level employment starts at $14 an hour. I saw a sign at Panda Express yesterday that they are hiring front line staff at $15 an hour.So, if you are moving from a lower cost part of the country, you may want to increase your wage demands to match the cost of living here. I met a man from Illinois who took an auto-body/painter job at $19 an hour. I felt like he sold himself short by taking such a skilled position for such low wages. He should have asked for at least $21/hour. Electricians, Plumbers and Carpenters can earn up to $50 an hour as an employee.There is a lot of money to be made in Portland. Rent prices are starting to go down slightly due to all the new apartments everywhere. Wages are higher than the national average and rent controls are in place in the city of Portland as of this year.In conclusion, you can afford to live in Portland if:demand wage rates commensurate with the cost of living. (it is possible. Employers are desperate to fill vacancies.)Skip car ownership. Youu2019ll find that owning a car in Portland is unnecessary.Shop around looking for good apartment deals. Many apartments are offering some amazing deals such as up to 2 months free rent.Low cost, high quality groceries means you wonu2019t have to pick between food or rent.Health care is treated as a right, not a privilege in Portland. Take advantage of your ACA tax credits!Mild weather and low(ish) utility costs means you donu2019t have to break the bank just to stay warm or cool.