$100k a year, no longer in Austin
changea dispatch from
grand rapids
MI
42.96°N
85.67°W
Grand Rapids has won Beer City USA multiple times, hosts ArtPrize (one of the world's largest open art competitions every fall), and built itself on furniture (Steelcase, Herman Miller). The Frederik Meijer Sculpture Park is a sleeper world-class attraction. Downtown is walkable, the surrounding farmland is gorgeous in autumn, and Lake Michigan beaches are 30 minutes west. Quietly excellent.
the verdict
the monthly cost of moving past Austin
You'd pay for Grand Rapids. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
a quick ledger.
$1,620/mo
2% more expensive than Austin(vs $1,583/mo)
4.25%
$354/mo more in state tax than Austin
vs 0% in Austin
$6,359/mo
$391 less than Austin
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$353k
19% cheaper than Austin
vs $433k in Austin
1.2M
vs 2.5M in Austin
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in grand rapids.
Austin actually gets more: 170 pleasant days a year. Bring a real coat. 50 days stay under 20°, well past Austin's 1.
Lighter on events: Austin packs 1.7× more into a month.
56/100
0% lower than Austin
vs 56/100 in Austin
Closest outdoor draw: White Pine Trail State Park, 5.4 mi.
97/100
2% lower than Austin
vs 99/100 in Austin
20
52% fewer than Austin
vs 42 nonstops in Austin
neighbors of grand rapids on the map of tradeoffs:
