with $100k coming in, swapping out of Ann Arbor

change
San Diego, CA cityscape

instead of ann arbor

San Diego

ca · metro 3.3M

photo: Justin Wolff / unsplash

a dispatch from

san diego

CA

32.72°N

117.16°W

San Diego is the city most Californians secretly wish they lived in: 70°F, sunny, and a beach for every mood. Fish tacos are religion, Balboa Park is bigger than Central Park and packed with museums, and the craft beer scene is one of the best in the country. The zoo is world-famous and the burritos are aggressively underrated. Even the freeways feel relaxed here.

metro3.3M

in our guides

#4

of 10

Most walkable cities in America

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#9

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Best cities for live music and arts

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#3

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Best cities for health and wellness

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#5

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Best cities for parks and green space

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#2

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Best cities to escape the heat

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#9

of 10

Best cities for a $100k salary

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#1

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Best cities for outdoor athletes

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#2

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Best cities with year-round outdoor weather

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#2

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#2

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Best cities with mild winters

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,229

more expensive each month than Ann Arbor

San Diego doesn't pretend to be affordable. Move here for what San Diego is, not for what it leaves on your monthly ledger.
landable, recorded on the san diego entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,890/mo

39% more expensive than Ann Arbor(vs $2,082/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$421/mo more in state tax than Ann Arbor

vs 4.25% in Ann Arbor

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$1,229 less than Ann Arbor

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

04a house here

$1010k

135% more expensive than Ann Arbor

vs $429k in Ann Arbor

05metro size

3.3M

vs 366k in Ann Arbor

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Ann Arbor barely cracks 154 pleasant ones.

A real upgrade on things to do: 12.4× Ann Arbor's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

34% higher than Ann Arbor

vs 56/100 in Ann Arbor

Closest outdoor draw: Silver Strand State Beach, 4.8 mi.

·walk score®

99/100

2% higher than Ann Arbor

vs 97/100 in Ann Arbor

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

59% fewer than Ann Arbor

vs 135 nonstops in Ann Arbor

04 · see also

same energy as san diego, different zip code:

see also

honolulu

more things to do

turn the page

see also

oxnard

better weather

turn the page

see also

san luis obispo

more things to do

turn the page

compare san diego with:

HonoluluOxnardSan Luis Obispo