on $100k a year, leaving New York

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Mobile, AL cityscape

from new york

Mobile

al · metro 412k

photo: Pixabay / pexels

a dispatch from

mobile

AL

30.69°N

88.04°W

Mobile threw the first Mardi Gras in America (1703, predating New Orleans), and the city still celebrates it with the same parade-and-moon-pie energy. The historic district has wrought-iron balconies and live oaks dripping Spanish moss. Mobile Bay seafood (especially fried shrimp and crab claws) is the local star. It's Gulf Coast, French-Spanish-British-Creole layered, and chiller than its bigger neighbors.

metro412k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$2,505

lighter monthly cost than New York

In Mobile, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
landable, recorded on the mobile entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,302/mo

61% cheaper than New York(vs $3,329/mo)

02state income tax

5%

$477/mo less in state tax than New York

vs 10.73% in New York

03after rent

$6,615/mo

$2,505 more than New York

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

04a house here

$194k

74% cheaper than New York

vs $739k in New York

05metro size

412k

vs 19.5M in New York

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

225

pleasant days a year, in mobile.

New York only manages 171 of those.

Lighter on events: New York packs 162.8× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

59/100

24% lower than New York

vs 78/100 in New York

Closest outdoor draw: Gulf State Park, 39.2 mi.

·walk score®

69/100

31% lower than New York

vs 100/100 in New York

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

5

98% fewer than New York

vs 215 nonstops in New York

04 · see also

same energy as mobile, different zip code:

compare mobile with: