Not everyone's spouse would automatically qualify for unemployment. For example, if I make enough to cover the $2600/month rent on my own and my wife is a full-time caregiver for our aging parents, if I lose my job we would only collect one unemployment check.

Yeah, if I were planning for that level of income, then we could probably comfortable cover our bills. My wife would have to already have a job. And we'd have a pretty sizable commute to get to work. So, bills would get covered, but life would be a lot less comfortable (though comfortable when compared to not being able to afford the basics).

But Portland is pretty affordable. $400k doesn't get you much in California (there are foreclosures in South Central listed for that much on Zillow right now).