same $100k income, fresh start from Philadelphia

change
Pensacola, FL cityscape

swapping out of philadelphia

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

$685

under Philadelphia, every month

Not a fortune, but real money. Pensacola runs cheaper than Philadelphia month over month.
landable, recorded on the pensacola entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,752/mo

6% cheaper than Philadelphia(vs $1,869/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$568/mo less in state tax than Philadelphia

vs 6.82% in Philadelphia

03after rent

$6,581/mo

$685 more than Philadelphia

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

04a house here

$303k

23% cheaper than Philadelphia

vs $393k in Philadelphia

05metro size

530k

vs 6.2M in Philadelphia

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

226

pleasant days a year, in pensacola.

Philadelphia keeps to 173 pleasant days a year.

But the calendar thins out: Philadelphia stays 7.1× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

0% lower than Philadelphia

vs 69/100 in Philadelphia

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

·walk score®

64/100

36% lower than Philadelphia

vs 100/100 in Philadelphia

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

11

91% fewer than Philadelphia

vs 122 nonstops in Philadelphia

04 · see also

cities that play in pensacola's register:

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