$100k a year, no longer in Atlanta

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Denver, CO cityscape

from atlanta

Denver

co · metro 3.0M

photo: Noel Aph / pexels

a dispatch from

denver

CO

39.74°N

104.98°W

Denver is a mile above sea level, an hour from a dozen ski resorts, and surrounded by mountains that make every west-facing window feel like a vacation. The air is dry, the sun shows up roughly 300 days a year, and craft beer is taken seriously enough to have its own annual pilgrimage (the Great American Beer Festival). Green chile is a hill people will die on. The patio season is essentially eternal.

metro3.0M

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$42

less monthly outlay than Atlanta

On paper, Denver and Atlanta are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the denver entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,863/mo

3% more expensive than Atlanta(vs $1,814/mo)

02state income tax

4.4%

$91/mo less in state tax than Atlanta

vs 5.49% in Atlanta

03after rent

$6,104/mo

$42 more than Atlanta

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

04a house here

$599k

55% more expensive than Atlanta

vs $386k in Atlanta

05metro size

3.0M

vs 6.3M in Atlanta

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

174

pleasant days a year, in denver.

Atlanta edges ahead with 204 pleasant days. Winter asks for something in return: 66 days under 20° here, 2 in Atlanta.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 1.9× more on the calendar than Atlanta.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

85/100

27% higher than Atlanta

vs 67/100 in Atlanta

Closest outdoor draw: Rocky Mountain National Park, 47.3 mi.

·walk score®

97/100

4% higher than Atlanta

vs 93/100 in Atlanta

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

169

22% fewer than Atlanta

vs 217 nonstops in Atlanta

04 · see also

if denver appeals, also worth a look:

compare denver with: