on $100k a year, leaving Columbus

change
El Paso, TX cityscape

instead of columbus

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

$370

lighter monthly cost than Columbus

El Paso gives you room Columbus doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the el paso entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,473/mo

3% cheaper than Columbus(vs $1,511/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$332/mo less in state tax than Columbus

vs 3.99% in Columbus

03after rent

$6,860/mo

$370 more than Columbus

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

04a house here

$231k

34% cheaper than Columbus

vs $350k in Columbus

05metro size

872k

vs 2.2M in Columbus

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

222

pleasant days a year, in el paso.

Columbus only manages 171 of those. Bring the AC. 60 days a year clear 95°, well past Columbus's 0.

74% fewer events than Columbus. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

65/100

14% higher than Columbus

vs 57/100 in Columbus

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

·walk score®

93/100

9% higher than Columbus

vs 85/100 in Columbus

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

59% fewer than Columbus

vs 32 nonstops in Columbus

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as el paso:

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