on $100k a year, leaving Seattle
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
under Seattle, every month
Grand Rapids gives you room Seattle doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
a quick ledger.
$1,620/mo
26% cheaper than Seattle(vs $2,193/mo)
4.25%
$354/mo more in state tax than Seattle
vs 0% in Seattle
$6,359/mo
$219 more than Seattle
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$353k
55% cheaper than Seattle
vs $791k in Seattle
1.2M
vs 4.0M in Seattle
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in grand rapids.
Seattle has the edge here, logging 182 pleasant days a year. The trade is winter: 50 days below 20°, vs 0 in Seattle.
Lighter on events: Seattle packs 3.7× more into a month.
56/100
40% lower than Seattle
vs 93/100 in Seattle
Closest outdoor draw: White Pine Trail State Park, 5.4 mi.
97/100
1% lower than Seattle
vs 98/100 in Seattle
20
78% fewer than Seattle
vs 90 nonstops in Seattle
cities that play in grand rapids's register:
