$100k salary, packing up from Boulder
changea dispatch from
chattanooga
TN
35.05°N
85.31°W
Chattanooga became the first city in the country to roll out gigabit fiber internet to every home (2010, via the municipal utility), which jump-started a tech and remote-work scene. Lookout Mountain rises right above town, with Ruby Falls' underground waterfall and Rock City's epic views. The Tennessee Riverwalk is gorgeous. The Choo Choo (old terminal turned hotel) is a fun stay.
the verdict
less monthly outlay than Boulder
In Chattanooga, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
a quick ledger.
$1,524/mo
31% cheaper than Boulder(vs $2,216/mo)
0%
$367/mo less in state tax than Boulder
vs 4.4% in Boulder
$6,809/mo
$1,058 more than Boulder
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$322k
59% cheaper than Boulder
vs $783k in Boulder
580k
vs 327k in Boulder
field notes, weather & such.
167
pleasant days a year, in chattanooga.
Boulder actually gets more: 178 pleasant days a year.
283% more happening than in Boulder.
69/100
13% lower than Boulder
vs 79/100 in Boulder
Closest outdoor draw: Cumberland Trail, 12.2 mi.
82/100
2% lower than Boulder
vs 84/100 in Boulder
8
95% fewer than Boulder
vs 169 nonstops in Boulder
neighbors of chattanooga on the map of tradeoffs:
