Daily Life - Personal Expenses

Personal Living Expenses

Everyone has to live on a budget wherever they are. Luckily, it doesn't cost a lot to live comfortably in Portland, but it might be more than you expect compared to your home country. Therefore it is helpful to plan an budget before you arrive, and be prepared to adjust it as needed:

Housing
Furniture
Transportation
Food
Weather
Clothing
Entertainment and Recreation
Telecommunications & Internet
Banks and Financial Institutions

Housing

Housing and related costs will probably be your biggest monthly expenditure.  Most likely you will be renting an apartment, although a homestay might be a nice option if you will only be in Portland for a short time. You can save money by sharing an apartment  with a roommate. For more detailed information about housing options, go to the Housing for Scholars page.

Estimated Costs of Housing

Furniture

If you choose to live in an unfurnished room or apartment, you will have to buy or rent furniture when you move in. You can buy new furniture at IKEA, Fred Meyer, City Liquidators Furniture Warehouse, or other furniture stores in the Portland area. You can buy used furniture at Consignment Northwest, on Craigslist, or thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army. You can rent furniture from Rent-A-Center, People's Furniture Rental, or Express Furniture Rental.

Transportation

If you live off campus, you will have to budget for the cost of transportation. Walking and bicycling are the healthiest and least expensive ways to get around, but they are not always practical if you need to travel far. Portland has an excellent public transportation system, which includes TriMet buses, MAX trains, and the Portland Streetcar. Over 40% of PSU students, faculty and staff use public transportation to get to and from campus.  Tickets cost $2.50 and allow you to ride and transfer for up to two hours. If you ride the bus or MAX regularly, you can buy a reduced-rate Student FlexPass from PSU's Transportation Services. All PSU students and scholars can ride the Portland Streetcar for free, just show your PSU scholar ID to the fare inspector. For more information, see the TriMet website. Driving a car is the most expensive way to get around because you have to buy the car, maintain it, fill it with gas, pay for parking, and purchase insurance.

Estimated Costs of Transportation

Food

Food is moderately expensive in the United States, and how much you spend depends on your eating habits. Eating out in restaurants is more expensive than preparing your own meals at home. The cost to eat out ranges from $10 for fast food to $20 or more for a sit-down meal in a restaurant. For more information about restaurants, go to the Living in Portland page.

The cost of groceries depends on where you shop and what you buy. Large supermarkets tend to have the lowest prices and the largest selection of products. Examples of supermarkets in Portland include Safeway, Fred Meyer, Albertsons, and Winco Foods.

There are alternatives to supermarkets. Natural food stores like New Seasons, Whole Foods, and Trader Joes sell a variety of health foods and organic fruit and vegetables, but they tend to be more expensive. Portland has many farmers' markets where you can buy local fruit and vegetables and other specialty food products. Finally, you can find the foods you are used to eating back home at international food stores such as the following:
 

Middle Eastern

Barbur World Foods, 9845 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland, 503-244-0670, http://www.barburworldfoods.com/
Bazaar Market, 10255 SW Canyon Rd, 503-641-1352
Beaverton Halal Meats, 11527 SW Canyon Rd, Beaverton, 503-574-2383, http://www.sada-e-watan.com
Halal Meats and Mediterranean Foods, 11535 SW Pacific Hwy, Portland, 503-293-3020
Hashi Halal Market, 106 N Killingsworth St, Portland, 319-335-3557

Asian

An Dong Market, 5441 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, 503-777-2463
Anzen Hiroshi's Inc, 736 NE MLK Blvd, Portland, 503-233-5111
Chang Fa Market, 8310 SE Division St, Portland, 503-788-8882
Fubonn Shopping Center, 2850 SE 82nd Ave, Portland, 503-517-8877, http://www.fubonn.com/
G-Mart, 3975 SW 114th Ave, Beaverton, 503-641-3313
Hong Phat Market, 9819 NE Prescott St, Portland, 503-254-8280
Oriental Food Value, 8303 SE Insley St, Portland, 503-775-8683
Pacific Supermarkets, 6750 NE Broadway St, Portland, 503-251-0524
Tin Seng Trading Company, 8350 SE Division St, Portland, (503) 777-8203
Uwajimaya, 10500 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Beaverton, 503-643-4512, http://www.uwajimaya.com/
Vieng Lao Oriental Food Center, 1032 N Killingsworth St, Portland, 503-285-7833

African

African International Food Market, 922 N Killingsworth St # 1C, Portland, 503-283-8585
African Mini-Mart and Deli, 819 N Killingsworth St, Portland, 503-360-1398
East African Hallal Meat Deli, 7830 NE Glisan St, Portland, 503-432-8600
Selam Market and Restaurant, 3513 NE MLK Blvd, Portland, 503-288-8585
Warsame African Food Market, 7535 NE Glisan St, Portland, 503-933-7368
Your African Community Market, 5516 NE 16th Ave, Portland, 503-287-5200

Weather

Summer (June - August): High temperatures are usually between 75°F and 80°F (24°C to 27°C). Summer clothing attire is for hot weather, and a light jacket can be worn for cooler evenings. 

Fall (September - November): High temperature are usually between 53°F and 63°F (12°C to 17°C). In October, days tend to be mild and partly sunny. As the weather starts to cool, rain becomes more common. Fall clothing is usually layers, and a rain jacket is necessary.

Winter (December - February): High temperatures are usually between 45°F and 51°F (7°C to 11°C). By December, temperatures may drop to freezing. We may get snow for a few days. It is necessary to have warm clothing and a winter coat. A heavy winter coat in the USA will cost approximately $100 to $200, depending on the quality. But remember, your suitcase space is valuable.

Spring (March - May): High temperatures are usually between 56°F to 67°F (13°C to 20°C). Spring days often start rainy and end up with blue skies and sun towards mid-day. Many flowers bloom in early March. Spring clothing is usually layers, and a light rain jacket.

Clothing

The cost of clothes varies depending on when and where you shop. Take advantage of sales for big savings, and remember that Oregon has no sales tax. Shopping malls are convenient because they have many stores in one place, which allows you to compare prices for similar items. The largest shopping malls in the Portland area are Pioneer Place, Lloyd Center, Clackamas Town Center Mall, and Washington Square. You can save a lot of money on clothes at discount stores like Ross Dress for Less, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Burlington Coat Factory. You can also save money at outlet stores such as those located at Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets and just south of Portland at Woodburn Company Stores. Your cheapest option is to buy used clothes at thrift stores such as Goodwill or Salvation Army.

Entertainment & Recreation

As a visiting scholar, it is important to take advantage of your time in Portland and the United States and experience as many things as you can. You can find the least expensive options for entertainment and recreation right here on the PSU campus. The IELP offers many free and low cost activities for students throughout the term. For more information and a schedule of events, go to the Activities page. It is free for students to use the Student Recreation Center, which is a fully equipped sports facility, as well as to attend Viking sporting events. Students can see movies at the 5th Avenue Cinema for free, and attend theater and concerts on campus for only $7-$15. The Viking Game Room offers low-cost bowling, billiards, and video games. There are many more options for entertainment and recreation off campus. For details, go to the Living in Portland page.

Estimated Costs of Entertainment and Recreation

Telecommunications and Internet

You have many options for keeping in touch with friends and family and accessing the internet. You can have a landline telephone installed in your home with local and long distance service. However, you will probably find it more convenient to sign up for cell (mobile) phone or wireless service. You may also choose to arrange for home internet access, as well as cable TV or satellite. You can save money by going through one company and "bundling" services for a discount. This usually requires that you sign a contract for a year or longer. PSU offers free internet access and Wi-Fi to students on campus, as do many cafes in Portland. Typical providers of telephone, cell phone, internet, and/or cable services include the following companies: AT&T, Century Link, Clear, Cricket, DIRECTV, Dish Network, Jitterbug, Sprint, T-Mobile, Xfinity, and Verizon.

Estimated Monthly Costs of Telecommunications and Internet Services

Banks and Financial Institutions

In order to keep your money safe and pay your bills while you are in the United States, you will need to open an account at a local bank or financial institution. Portland has a variety to choose from. In addition to conventional banks, there are also credit unions, which are member-owned financial cooperatives. Both offer savings accounts, checking accounts, and credit card services. The U.S. government guarantees the safety of deposits made in both banks and credit unions up to $250,000. You can open an account with two forms of photo identification, such as your passport and your PSU student ID. Financial institutions with branches located near the PSU campus include the following: Bank of the West, Chase Bank, Key Bank, Umpqua Bank, Unitus Community Credit Union, US Bank, and Wells Fargo Bank.