same $100k income, fresh start from Detroit
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
cheaper each month than Detroit
Not a fortune, but real money. Chattanooga runs cheaper than Detroit month over month.
a quick ledger.
$1,524/mo
4% more expensive than Detroit(vs $1,472/mo)
0%
$354/mo less in state tax than Detroit
vs 4.25% in Detroit
$6,809/mo
$302 more than Detroit
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$322k
23% more expensive than Detroit
vs $262k in Detroit
580k
vs 4.3M in Detroit
field notes, weather & such.
167
pleasant days a year, in chattanooga.
Detroit only manages 160 of those.
But the calendar thins out: Detroit stays 3.9× busier.
69/100
47% higher than Detroit
vs 47/100 in Detroit
Closest outdoor draw: Cumberland Trail, 12.2 mi.
82/100
17% lower than Detroit
vs 99/100 in Detroit
8
94% fewer than Detroit
vs 135 nonstops in Detroit
if chattanooga appeals, also worth a look:
