$100k salary, packing up from New Orleans

change
Pensacola, FL cityscape

swapping out of new orleans

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

in our guides

#4

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#6

of 10

Sunniest affordable US cities

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best mid-sized US cities

read the guide
#6

of 10

Affordable cities to escape the cold

read the guide
#2

of 10

Low-tax cities with great weather

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities in states with no income tax

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to leave Chicago for

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best affordable coastal cities

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities on the East Coast

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to live in Florida

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities for a $150k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for a $200k salary

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities to leave Miami for

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for snowbirds

read the guide
#4

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Miami

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best affordable coastal cities for families

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best warm affordable coastal cities

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave San Diego for

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$110

below New Orleans's monthly cost

A near-tie on cost. What separates Pensacola is the life around the numbers.
landable, recorded on the pensacola entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,752/mo

9% more expensive than New Orleans(vs $1,612/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$250/mo less in state tax than New Orleans

vs 3% in New Orleans

03after rent

$6,581/mo

$110 more than New Orleans

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

04a house here

$303k

17% more expensive than New Orleans

vs $259k in New Orleans

05metro size

530k

vs 962k in New Orleans

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

226

pleasant days a year, in pensacola.

New Orleans actually gets more: 235 pleasant days a year.

Noticeably quieter than New Orleans. About 73% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

25% higher than New Orleans

vs 55/100 in New Orleans

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

·walk score®

64/100

35% lower than New Orleans

vs 98/100 in New Orleans

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

11

72% fewer than New Orleans

vs 39 nonstops in New Orleans

04 · see also

same energy as pensacola, different zip code:

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