same $100k income, fresh start from New York
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
lighter monthly cost than New York
Move to Chattanooga and the monthly math gets easier. New York's rent is the headline; Chattanooga's is a footnote.
a quick ledger.
$1,524/mo
54% cheaper than New York(vs $3,329/mo)
0%
$894/mo less in state tax than New York
vs 10.73% in New York
$6,809/mo
$2,699 more than New York
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$322k
56% cheaper than New York
vs $739k in New York
580k
vs 19.5M in New York
field notes, weather & such.
167
pleasant days a year, in chattanooga.
New York has the edge here, logging 171 pleasant days a year.
Lighter on events: New York packs 169.9× more into a month.
69/100
12% lower than New York
vs 78/100 in New York
Closest outdoor draw: Cumberland Trail, 12.2 mi.
82/100
18% lower than New York
vs 100/100 in New York
8
96% fewer than New York
vs 215 nonstops in New York
in the same ballpark as chattanooga:
