$100k a year, no longer in Salinas

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El Paso, TX cityscape

swapping out of salinas

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

$2,115

less monthly outlay than Salinas

In El Paso, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
landable, recorded on the el paso entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,473/mo

48% cheaper than Salinas(vs $2,813/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$775/mo less in state tax than Salinas

vs 9.3% in Salinas

03after rent

$6,860/mo

$2,115 more than Salinas

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

04a house here

$231k

73% cheaper than Salinas

vs $862k in Salinas

05metro size

872k

vs 431k in Salinas

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

222

pleasant days a year, in el paso.

Salinas has the edge here, logging 335 pleasant days a year. Bring the AC. 60 days a year clear 95°, well past Salinas's 0.

·outdoorscore

65/100

8% lower than Salinas

vs 71/100 in Salinas

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

·walk score®

93/100

18% higher than Salinas

vs 79/100 in Salinas

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

117% more than Salinas

vs 6 nonstops in Salinas

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