on $100k a year, leaving New York
changea dispatch from
fort collins
CO
40.59°N
105.08°W
Fort Collins is the home of New Belgium Brewing (Fat Tire's origin) and a thriving craft beer scene with more breweries than Boulder. Old Town's brick streets and historic storefronts are charming enough that they're said to have influenced Disney's Main Street USA designers. CSU keeps the energy young. The foothills rise right outside town, and Rocky Mountain National Park is an hour away. Quieter than Boulder, less expensive.
the verdict
lighter monthly cost than New York
Fort Collins runs on a fraction of New York's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
a quick ledger.
$1,971/mo
41% cheaper than New York(vs $3,329/mo)
4.4%
$528/mo less in state tax than New York
vs 10.73% in New York
$5,996/mo
$1,886 more than New York
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$572k
23% cheaper than New York
vs $739k in New York
371k
vs 19.5M in New York
field notes, weather & such.
177
pleasant days a year, in fort collins.
New York barely cracks 171 pleasant ones. Winter has bite, though: 44 days drop below 20° vs New York's 19.
But the calendar thins out: New York stays 3907.0× busier.
69/100
12% lower than New York
vs 78/100 in New York
Closest outdoor draw: Rocky Mountain National Park, 31.3 mi.
86/100
14% lower than New York
vs 100/100 in New York
169
21% fewer than New York
vs 215 nonstops in New York
if fort collins appeals, also worth a look:
