on $100k a year, leaving Santa Rosa

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El Paso, TX cityscape

from santa rosa

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

$1,899

under Santa Rosa, every month

El Paso runs on a fraction of Santa Rosa's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
landable, recorded on the el paso entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,473/mo

43% cheaper than Santa Rosa(vs $2,597/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$775/mo less in state tax than Santa Rosa

vs 9.3% in Santa Rosa

03after rent

$6,860/mo

$1,899 more than Santa Rosa

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

04a house here

$231k

72% cheaper than Santa Rosa

vs $817k in Santa Rosa

05metro size

872k

vs 482k in Santa Rosa

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

222

pleasant days a year, in el paso.

Santa Rosa has the edge here, logging 254 pleasant days a year. Warm, not extreme: 60 days clear 95°, vs 28 back in Santa Rosa.

2900% more happening than in Santa Rosa.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

65/100

6% lower than Santa Rosa

vs 69/100 in Santa Rosa

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

·walk score®

93/100

5% lower than Santa Rosa

vs 98/100 in Santa Rosa

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

225% more than Santa Rosa

vs 4 nonstops in Santa Rosa

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