on $100k a year, leaving San Francisco
changea dispatch from
boulder
CO
40.01°N
105.27°W
Boulder is the Flatirons rising right behind town, the Pearl Street Mall pedestrian shopping, and a population that runs more, climbs more, and bikes more than basically any other American city. CU keeps it young, the foothills keep it active, and the food scene leans organic-virtuous. The access to the Rockies is unmatched and the sunshine is relentless, and locals invest in the city like it's a lifestyle, not just an address.
the verdict
under San Francisco, every month
Boulder is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
a quick ledger.
$2,216/mo
30% cheaper than San Francisco(vs $3,146/mo)
4.4%
$408/mo less in state tax than San Francisco
vs 9.3% in San Francisco
$5,751/mo
$1,339 more than San Francisco
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$783k
37% cheaper than San Francisco
vs $1239k in San Francisco
327k
vs 4.6M in San Francisco
field notes, weather & such.
178
pleasant days a year, in boulder.
San Francisco has the edge here, logging 312 pleasant days a year. Bring a real coat. 42 days stay under 20°, well past San Francisco's 0.
But the calendar thins out: San Francisco stays 43.0× busier.
79/100
5% lower than San Francisco
vs 83/100 in San Francisco
Closest outdoor draw: Rocky Mountain National Park, 23.2 mi.
84/100
15% lower than San Francisco
vs 99/100 in San Francisco
169
52% more than San Francisco
vs 111 nonstops in San Francisco
same energy as boulder, different zip code:
compare boulder with:
