on $100k a year, leaving Duluth

change
El Paso, TX cityscape

instead of duluth

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

$740

below Duluth's monthly cost

El Paso gives you room Duluth 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

6% cheaper than Duluth(vs $1,559/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$654/mo less in state tax than Duluth

vs 7.85% in Duluth

03after rent

$6,860/mo

$740 more than Duluth

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

04a house here

$231k

8% cheaper than Duluth

vs $252k in Duluth

05metro size

872k

vs 282k in Duluth

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

222

pleasant days a year, in el paso.

Duluth only manages 132 of those. The trade is summer: 60 days above 95°, vs 0 in Duluth.

On par with Duluth for events and shows.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

65/100

11% lower than Duluth

vs 73/100 in Duluth

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

·walk score®

93/100

200% higher than Duluth

vs 31/100 in Duluth

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

225% more than Duluth

vs 4 nonstops in Duluth

04 · see also

neighbors of el paso on the map of tradeoffs:

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