$100k salary, packing up from Des Moines
changea dispatch from
milwaukee
WI
43.04°N
87.91°W
Milwaukee is beer (the Pabst and Miller legacy still hangs in the air), bratwurst (with the proper amount of mustard, please), and a Lake Michigan shoreline that goes on forever. Frozen custard is a regional specialty and a serious one. The Calatrava-designed art museum has wings that literally open and close on Lake Michigan. Friendly here means you'll have a new friend by the second beer.
the verdict
the monthly premium over Des Moines
Milwaukee costs meaningfully more. Whether it earns that back in the day-to-day is the actual question.
a quick ledger.
$1,504/mo
19% more expensive than Des Moines(vs $1,268/mo)
6.27%
$23/mo more in state tax than Des Moines
vs 6% in Des Moines
$6,307/mo
$258 less than Des Moines
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$394k
32% more expensive than Des Moines
vs $300k in Des Moines
1.6M
vs 737k in Des Moines
field notes, weather & such.
149
pleasant days a year, in milwaukee.
Des Moines actually gets more: 151 pleasant days a year.
A real upgrade on things to do: 1.5× Des Moines's pace.
61/100
11% higher than Des Moines
vs 55/100 in Des Moines
Closest outdoor draw: Chain O'Lakes State Park, 44.1 mi.
98/100
26% higher than Des Moines
vs 78/100 in Des Moines
30
76% more than Des Moines
vs 17 nonstops in Des Moines
if milwaukee appeals, also worth a look:
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