$100k salary, packing up from Columbia
changea dispatch from
harrisburg
PA
40.26°N
76.88°W
Harrisburg is the Pennsylvania state capital sitting on the Susquehanna River, with a gorgeous Beaux-Arts capitol building (Theodore Roosevelt called it the handsomest building he ever saw). City Island in the middle of the river is a small park with minor league baseball. Hershey is 15 minutes east (yes, that Hershey). Slower-paced than its metro neighbors.
in our guides
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Best affordable cities to retire
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Affordable alternatives to Boise
read the guidethe verdict
below Columbia's monthly cost
The gap is real. Harrisburg costs noticeably less than Columbia, every month.
a quick ledger.
$1,446/mo
7% cheaper than Columbia(vs $1,551/mo)
3.07%
$286/mo less in state tax than Columbia
vs 6.5% in Columbia
$6,632/mo
$391 more than Columbia
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$309k
21% more expensive than Columbia
vs $255k in Columbia
606k
vs 857k in Columbia
field notes, weather & such.
152
pleasant days a year, in harrisburg.
Columbia actually gets more: 189 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 33 days below 20° here, 2 in Columbia.
A month here packs 1.7× the events of Columbia.
69/100
25% higher than Columbia
vs 55/100 in Columbia
Closest outdoor draw: Gifford Pinchot State Park, 12.7 mi.
93/100
9% higher than Columbia
vs 85/100 in Columbia
12
20% more than Columbia
vs 10 nonstops in Columbia
if harrisburg appeals, also worth a look:
