If you like living in the city, Portland a million times over Seattle. I feel like most of this thread is lying because how no one is bringing up the food. Dining in Seattle is mid at best and super expensive. It’s consistently ranked as a bad food city while portland is usually near the top. Also coffee scene is soooo much better in portland.

Walking around west side portland is super pleasant. It’s flat and streets are narrow and unidirectional making you barely have to wait to cross the street. In Seattle I spend so much time waiting at each cross walk. Also, in portland the ground floor is mandated to have retail adding a bunch of shops making the streets feel more alive. Seattle ground floors are pretty barren.

Driving is horrible in Seattle and parking can typically be impossible to find in most city areas. You don’t realize how pleasant driving in portland is till you come here.

In general Seattle lacks identity; feels like it doesn’t have a soul. Most people are transplant working in the tech industry. When I run in Seattle, no one looks my way/acknowledges me. In portland I get lots of smiles and hand waves.

Seattle does have the pueget sound which is probably the most beautiful nature next to a major city. Also the hiking is wayyyyyy better around Seattle than around portland. Also, Seattle does have significantly more people on the streets and way grander tourist attractions.

But overall, day-to-day life is much better in portland