$100k salary, packing up from Durham

change
Pensacola, FL cityscape

swapping out of durham

Pensacola

fl · metro 530k

photo: Viktoria B. / pexels

a dispatch from

pensacola

FL

30.42°N

87.22°W

Pensacola is the Blue Angels' home base (you can watch their practices for free at the National Naval Aviation Museum), with sugar-white sand beaches on the Gulf and a charming historic district that goes back to the Spanish. It's the western-most Florida city, closer to New Orleans than to Miami in feel. Affordable, sunny, and serious about seafood.

metro530k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$307

below Durham's monthly cost

The gap is real. Pensacola costs noticeably less than Durham, every month.
landable, recorded on the pensacola entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,752/mo

4% more expensive than Durham(vs $1,684/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$375/mo less in state tax than Durham

vs 4.5% in Durham

03after rent

$6,581/mo

$307 more than Durham

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

04a house here

$303k

27% cheaper than Durham

vs $415k in Durham

05metro size

530k

vs 609k in Durham

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

226

pleasant days a year, in pensacola.

Durham only manages 178 of those.

About as much going on as in Durham.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

38% higher than Durham

vs 50/100 in Durham

Closest outdoor draw: Gulf Islands National Seashore, 6.9 mi.

·walk score®

64/100

20% lower than Durham

vs 80/100 in Durham

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

11

72% fewer than Durham

vs 39 nonstops in Durham

04 · see also

neighbors of pensacola on the map of tradeoffs:

see also

eugene

better park access

turn the page

see also

daytona beach

similar overall lifestyle

turn the page

see also

greenville

more things to do

turn the page

compare pensacola with:

EugeneDaytona BeachGreenville