same $100k income, fresh start from Des Moines

change
Miami, FL cityscape

instead of des moines

Miami

fl · metro 6.2M

photo: Rolando Yera / unsplash

a dispatch from

miami

FL

25.77°N

80.19°W

Miami is Spanish before it's English, salsa before it's small talk, and a cortadito before it's a coffee. South Beach Art Deco glows pink at night, Wynwood is a city-sized mural, and the Cuban sandwiches in Little Havana could end fights. Summer is bath-warm ocean and ceiling fans turned up high, and October feels like everywhere else's perfect August. Bring linen.

metro6.2M

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$897

more expensive each month than Des Moines

Miami doesn't pretend to be affordable. Move here for what Miami is, not for what it leaves on your monthly ledger.
landable, recorded on the miami entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,665/mo

110% more expensive than Des Moines(vs $1,268/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$500/mo less in state tax than Des Moines

vs 6% in Des Moines

03after rent

$5,668/mo

$897 less than Des Moines

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$565k

88% more expensive than Des Moines

vs $300k in Des Moines

05metro size

6.2M

vs 737k in Des Moines

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

272

pleasant days a year, in miami.

Des Moines barely cracks 151 pleasant ones.

A real upgrade on things to do: 21.4× Des Moines's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

77/100

40% higher than Des Moines

vs 55/100 in Des Moines

Closest outdoor draw: Everglades National Park Expansion, 20.4 mi.

·walk score®

97/100

24% higher than Des Moines

vs 78/100 in Des Moines

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

167

882% more than Des Moines

vs 17 nonstops in Des Moines

04 · see also

same energy as miami, different zip code:

see also

los angeles

similar overall lifestyle

turn the page

see also

washington

better park access

turn the page

see also

orlando

$728/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare miami with:

Los AngelesWashingtonOrlando