with $100k coming in, swapping out of Melbourne

change
El Paso, TX cityscape

instead of melbourne

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

$422

less monthly outlay than Melbourne

You'd feel the difference in El Paso. Not life-changing money, but real breathing room next to Melbourne.
landable, recorded on the el paso entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,473/mo

22% cheaper than Melbourne(vs $1,895/mo)

02state income tax

0%

vs 0% in Melbourne

03after rent

$6,860/mo

$422 more than Melbourne

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

04a house here

$231k

34% cheaper than Melbourne

vs $351k in Melbourne

05metro size

872k

vs 644k in Melbourne

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

222

pleasant days a year, in el paso.

Melbourne actually gets more: 254 pleasant days a year. Bring the AC. 60 days a year clear 95°, well past Melbourne's 0.

·outdoorscore

65/100

18% higher than Melbourne

vs 55/100 in Melbourne

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

·walk score®

93/100

11% higher than Melbourne

vs 84/100 in Melbourne

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

550% more than Melbourne

vs 2 nonstops in Melbourne

04 · see also

same energy as el paso, different zip code:

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