on $100k a year, leaving San Diego
changea dispatch from
knoxville
TN
35.96°N
83.92°W
Knoxville is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains (the most-visited national park in the country, 30 minutes east), the University of Tennessee's Vol energy, and the gold-roofed Sunsphere left over from the 1982 World's Fair. Market Square downtown is brick, patios, and a Saturday farmers market that takes over the whole space. The food and bar scene has come into its own. The mountains do the heavy lifting.
the verdict
lighter monthly cost than San Diego
In Knoxville, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
a quick ledger.
$1,731/mo
40% cheaper than San Diego(vs $2,890/mo)
0%
$775/mo less in state tax than San Diego
vs 9.3% in San Diego
$6,602/mo
$1,934 more than San Diego
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$364k
64% cheaper than San Diego
vs $1010k in San Diego
947k
vs 3.3M in San Diego
field notes, weather & such.
189
pleasant days a year, in knoxville.
San Diego edges ahead with 332 pleasant days.
But the calendar thins out: San Diego stays 4.1× busier.
69/100
8% lower than San Diego
vs 75/100 in San Diego
Closest outdoor draw: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 31.8 mi.
71/100
28% lower than San Diego
vs 99/100 in San Diego
17
69% fewer than San Diego
vs 55 nonstops in San Diego
same energy as knoxville, different zip code:
compare knoxville with:
