$100k salary, packing up from Asheville

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El Paso, TX cityscape

next stop after asheville

El Paso

tx · metro 872k

photo: Gene Maysonet / pexels

a dispatch from

el paso

TX

31.76°N

106.49°W

El Paso has the Franklin Mountains running right through the middle of the city (which is rare), with hiking trails inside city limits and the desert wide open just past the suburbs. The Mexican food is exceptional in ways that the rest of Texas doesn't quite match (it's true regional border food). Ciudad Juarez is literally next door across the Rio Grande. The light at sunset is unreal.

metro872k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$640

below Asheville's monthly cost

The gap is real. El Paso costs noticeably less than Asheville, every month.
landable, recorded on the el paso entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,473/mo

15% cheaper than Asheville(vs $1,738/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$375/mo less in state tax than Asheville

vs 4.5% in Asheville

03after rent

$6,860/mo

$640 more than Asheville

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

04a house here

$231k

46% cheaper than Asheville

vs $430k in Asheville

05metro size

872k

vs 417k in Asheville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

222

pleasant days a year, in el paso.

Asheville only logs 201 pleasant days. Summer asks for something in return: 60 days top 95° here, 0 in Asheville.

Comparable to Asheville for events and concerts.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

65/100

2% lower than Asheville

vs 66/100 in Asheville

Closest outdoor draw: White Sands National Park, 72.1 mi.

·walk score®

93/100

48% higher than Asheville

vs 63/100 in Asheville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

63% more than Asheville

vs 8 nonstops in Asheville

04 · see also

if el paso appeals, also worth a look:

see also

roanoke

more things to do

turn the page

see also

lexington

more things to do

turn the page

see also

huntsville

more things to do

turn the page

compare el paso with:

RoanokeLexingtonHuntsville