$100k a year, no longer in Washington
changea dispatch from
kansas city
MO
39.10°N
94.58°W
Kansas City is barbecue (burnt ends are a local invention), jazz (the 18th and Vine district fed Charlie Parker and Count Basie), and fountains everywhere you turn. The city straddles two states and doesn't make a big deal out of it. The Plaza shopping district looks like Seville, which is delightfully odd for the Midwest. Friendly here means genuinely friendly.
the verdict
less monthly outlay than Washington
Kansas City runs on a fraction of Washington's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
a quick ledger.
$1,502/mo
36% cheaper than Washington(vs $2,352/mo)
4.7%
$317/mo less in state tax than Washington
vs 8.5% in Washington
$6,440/mo
$1,167 more than Washington
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$326k
48% cheaper than Washington
vs $626k in Washington
2.2M
vs 6.3M in Washington
field notes, weather & such.
170
pleasant days a year, in kansas city.
Washington has the edge here, logging 177 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 26 days below 20° here, 11 in Washington.
48% fewer events than Washington. The pace eases up.
56/100
36% lower than Washington
vs 87/100 in Washington
Closest outdoor draw: Perry State Park, 48.7 mi.
94/100
4% lower than Washington
vs 98/100 in Washington
43
73% fewer than Washington
vs 160 nonstops in Washington
if kansas city appeals, also worth a look:
