$100k a year, no longer in New York
changea dispatch from
phoenix
AZ
33.45°N
112.07°W
Phoenix is sun, saguaros, and a valley so wide you can drive 45 minutes in a straight line and still be in greater Phoenix. The Sonoran Desert blooms wildly in spring, the monsoon storms in late summer are theatrical, and the hiking on Camelback or Piestewa Peak is a sunrise ritual. Pools and shaded patios are basically infrastructure, and the locals have the rhythm of a desert day dialed.
in our guides
the verdict
under New York, every month
In Phoenix, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
a quick ledger.
$1,739/mo
48% cheaper than New York(vs $3,329/mo)
2.5%
$686/mo less in state tax than New York
vs 10.73% in New York
$6,386/mo
$2,276 more than New York
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$458k
38% cheaper than New York
vs $739k in New York
5.1M
vs 19.5M in New York
field notes, weather & such.
181
pleasant days a year, in phoenix.
New York barely cracks 171 pleasant ones. Heat is the cost: 133 days top 95° vs New York's 1.
Noticeably quieter than New York. About 95% fewer events on a typical month.
66/100
15% lower than New York
vs 78/100 in New York
Closest outdoor draw: Sierra Estrella Wilderness Area, 20.4 mi.
97/100
3% lower than New York
vs 100/100 in New York
91
58% fewer than New York
vs 215 nonstops in New York
neighbors of phoenix on the map of tradeoffs:
compare phoenix with:
