on $100k a year, leaving San Francisco

change
Mobile, AL cityscape

from san francisco

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

in our guides

#2

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#1

of 10

Sunniest affordable US cities

read the guide
#1

of 10

Affordable cities to escape the cold

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for retirees who love the outdoors

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for families

read the guide
#2

of 10

Cheapest cities in America

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to leave New York for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Los Angeles for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Chicago for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Austin

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Phoenix for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Denver for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Austin for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best affordable coastal cities

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to escape the heat

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for a $75k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for a $100k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for a $150k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to leave Boston for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to buy a home

read the guide
#3

of 10

Most affordable cities to buy a home

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Nashville for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Miami for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities for snowbirds

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Portland for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Nashville

read the guide
#3

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Miami

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best affordable coastal cities for families

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best warm affordable coastal cities

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities where buying beats renting

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave San Diego for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Minneapolis for

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities with mild winters

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for a $60k salary

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to retire early

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$2,203

under San Francisco, every month

Mobile runs on a fraction of San Francisco's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
landable, recorded on the mobile entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,302/mo

59% cheaper than San Francisco(vs $3,146/mo)

02state income tax

5%

$358/mo less in state tax than San Francisco

vs 9.3% in San Francisco

03after rent

$6,615/mo

$2,203 more than San Francisco

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

04a house here

$194k

84% cheaper than San Francisco

vs $1239k in San Francisco

05metro size

412k

vs 4.6M in San Francisco

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

225

pleasant days a year, in mobile.

San Francisco has the edge here, logging 312 pleasant days a year.

Noticeably quieter than San Francisco. About 91% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

59/100

29% lower than San Francisco

vs 83/100 in San Francisco

Closest outdoor draw: Gulf State Park, 39.2 mi.

·walk score®

69/100

30% lower than San Francisco

vs 99/100 in San Francisco

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

5

95% fewer than San Francisco

vs 111 nonstops in San Francisco

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as mobile:

see also

pensacola

better park access

turn the page

see also

hickory

better park access

turn the page

see also

greensboro

more flight options

turn the page

compare mobile with:

PensacolaHickoryGreensboro