$100k a year, no longer in Chicago

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Columbus, OH cityscape

swapping out of chicago

Columbus

oh · metro 2.2M

a dispatch from

columbus

OH

39.96°N

83.00°W

Columbus is Ohio State on autumn Saturdays (the Horseshoe holds 100,000+ and they all wear scarlet), German Village's cobblestone streets and brick cottages, and a Short North gallery scene that punches well above its weight. It's quietly become a test market for the rest of America because the demographics line up so neatly. The food scene leans young, weird, and good. 'Buckeyes' here can mean either the football team or the chocolate-peanut-butter candy.

metro2.2M

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$739

less monthly outlay than Chicago

Columbus is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
landable, recorded on the columbus entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,511/mo

30% cheaper than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)

02state income tax

3.99%

$80/mo less in state tax than Chicago

vs 4.95% in Chicago

03after rent

$6,490/mo

$739 more than Chicago

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$350k

4% cheaper than Chicago

vs $365k in Chicago

05metro size

2.2M

vs 9.3M in Chicago

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

171

pleasant days a year, in columbus.

Chicago only manages 153 of those.

Noticeably quieter than Chicago. About 91% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

57/100

19% lower than Chicago

vs 70/100 in Chicago

Closest outdoor draw: Alum Creek State Park, 16.2 mi.

·walk score®

85/100

15% lower than Chicago

vs 100/100 in Chicago

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

32

85% fewer than Chicago

vs 217 nonstops in Chicago

04 · see also

cities that play in columbus's register:

compare columbus with: