same $100k income, fresh start from Washington
changea dispatch from
duluth
MN
46.79°N
92.11°W
Duluth sits on the western tip of Lake Superior, with the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge lifting for ships entering the harbor. Bob Dylan was born here. The lakefront walking path goes for miles. Canal Park has the local food and brewery scene. Summer hiking, kayaking, and shoreline views are jaw-dropping, and winter turns the city into a snow-lit lakeside cathedral. Wild and beautiful.
the verdict
cheaper each month than Washington
In Duluth, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
a quick ledger.
$1,559/mo
34% cheaper than Washington(vs $2,352/mo)
7.85%
$54/mo less in state tax than Washington
vs 8.5% in Washington
$6,120/mo
$847 more than Washington
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$252k
60% cheaper than Washington
vs $626k in Washington
282k
vs 6.3M in Washington
field notes, weather & such.
132
pleasant days a year, in duluth.
Washington actually gets more: 177 pleasant days a year. The trade is winter: 105 days below 20°, vs 11 in Washington.
But the calendar thins out: Washington stays 5.4× busier.
73/100
16% lower than Washington
vs 87/100 in Washington
Closest outdoor draw: Jay Cooke State Park, 12.6 mi.
31/100
68% lower than Washington
vs 98/100 in Washington
4
97% fewer than Washington
vs 160 nonstops in Washington
