with $100k coming in, swapping out of Chicago
changea dispatch from
colorado springs
CO
38.83°N
104.82°W
Colorado Springs sits at the foot of Pikes Peak (which inspired America the Beautiful), with the Garden of the Gods' red rock formations rising on the city's western edge. The Air Force Academy chapel is one of the most striking pieces of modernist religious architecture in the country. It's drier and sunnier than people expect, with strong evangelical and military communities shaping the city's character. Outdoorsy in a quiet way.
the verdict
cheaper each month than Chicago
You'd feel the difference in Colorado Springs. Not life-changing money, but real breathing room next to Chicago.
a quick ledger.
$1,733/mo
20% cheaper than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)
4.4%
$46/mo less in state tax than Chicago
vs 4.95% in Chicago
$6,234/mo
$483 more than Chicago
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$463k
27% more expensive than Chicago
vs $365k in Chicago
769k
vs 9.3M in Chicago
field notes, weather & such.
184
pleasant days a year, in colorado springs.
Chicago barely cracks 153 pleasant ones. Winter asks for something in return: 75 days under 20° here, 38 in Chicago.
Lighter on events: Chicago packs 30.1× more into a month.
71/100
1% higher than Chicago
vs 70/100 in Chicago
Closest outdoor draw: Mueller State Park, 20.1 mi.
80/100
20% lower than Chicago
vs 100/100 in Chicago
11
95% fewer than Chicago
vs 217 nonstops in Chicago
neighbors of colorado springs on the map of tradeoffs:
