with $100k coming in, swapping out of Washington

change
Denver, CO cityscape

from washington

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

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$831

less monthly outlay than Washington

Denver runs on a fraction of Washington's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
landable, recorded on the denver entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,863/mo

21% cheaper than Washington(vs $2,352/mo)

02state income tax

4.4%

$342/mo less in state tax than Washington

vs 8.5% in Washington

03after rent

$6,104/mo

$831 more than Washington

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

04a house here

$599k

4% cheaper than Washington

vs $626k in Washington

05metro size

3.0M

vs 6.3M in Washington

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

174

pleasant days a year, in denver.

Washington gets 177 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine. Cold is the cost: 66 days drop below 20° vs Washington's 11.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 2.8× more on the calendar than Washington.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

85/100

2% lower than Washington

vs 87/100 in Washington

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

·walk score®

97/100

1% lower than Washington

vs 98/100 in Washington

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

169

6% more than Washington

vs 160 nonstops in Washington

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as denver:

see also

boulder

better weather

turn the page

see also

las vegas

$498/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

minneapolis

similar overall lifestyle

turn the page

compare denver with:

BoulderLas VegasMinneapolis