same $100k income, fresh start from Philadelphia

change
Columbus, OH cityscape

swapping out of philadelphia

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

$594

under Philadelphia, every month

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

19% cheaper than Philadelphia(vs $1,869/mo)

02state income tax

3.99%

$236/mo less in state tax than Philadelphia

vs 6.82% in Philadelphia

03after rent

$6,490/mo

$594 more than Philadelphia

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

04a house here

$350k

11% cheaper than Philadelphia

vs $393k in Philadelphia

05metro size

2.2M

vs 6.2M in Philadelphia

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

171

pleasant days a year, in columbus.

Philadelphia gets 173 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

Lighter on events: Philadelphia packs 1.6× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

57/100

17% lower than Philadelphia

vs 69/100 in Philadelphia

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

·walk score®

85/100

15% lower than Philadelphia

vs 100/100 in Philadelphia

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

32

74% fewer than Philadelphia

vs 122 nonstops in Philadelphia

04 · see also

if columbus appeals, also worth a look:

compare columbus with: