with $100k coming in, swapping out of Charleston

change
San Diego, CA cityscape

instead of charleston

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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#3

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Best cities for a $100k salary

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,137

the monthly cost of moving past Charleston

A real premium for San Diego. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
landable, recorded on the san diego entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,890/mo

45% more expensive than Charleston(vs $1,987/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$233/mo more in state tax than Charleston

vs 6.5% in Charleston

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$1,137 less than Charleston

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

04a house here

$1010k

134% more expensive than Charleston

vs $432k in Charleston

05metro size

3.3M

vs 849k in Charleston

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Charleston keeps to 212 pleasant days a year.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 4.2× more on the calendar than Charleston.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

12% higher than Charleston

vs 67/100 in Charleston

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

·walk score®

99/100

8% higher than Charleston

vs 92/100 in Charleston

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

175% more than Charleston

vs 20 nonstops in Charleston

04 · see also

if san diego appeals, also worth a look:

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