$100k a year, no longer in Philadelphia

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El Paso, TX cityscape

next stop after philadelphia

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

$964

less monthly outlay than Philadelphia

El Paso is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
landable, recorded on the el paso entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,473/mo

21% cheaper than Philadelphia(vs $1,869/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$568/mo less in state tax than Philadelphia

vs 6.82% in Philadelphia

03after rent

$6,860/mo

$964 more than Philadelphia

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

04a house here

$231k

41% cheaper than Philadelphia

vs $393k in Philadelphia

05metro size

872k

vs 6.2M in Philadelphia

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

222

pleasant days a year, in el paso.

Philadelphia barely cracks 173 pleasant ones. Summer asks for something in return: 60 days top 95° here, 2 in Philadelphia.

Noticeably quieter than Philadelphia. About 84% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

65/100

6% lower than Philadelphia

vs 69/100 in Philadelphia

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

·walk score®

93/100

7% lower than Philadelphia

vs 100/100 in Philadelphia

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

89% fewer than Philadelphia

vs 122 nonstops in Philadelphia

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