same $100k income, fresh start from Colorado Springs

change
San Diego, CA cityscape

next stop after colorado springs

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

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities for live music and arts

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities for health and wellness

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for parks and green space

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to escape the heat

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities for a $100k salary

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for outdoor athletes

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities with year-round outdoor weather

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for cyclists

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to live in California

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities for dog owners

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities with mild winters

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,566

more expensive each month than Colorado Springs

San Diego is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
landable, recorded on the san diego entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,890/mo

67% more expensive than Colorado Springs(vs $1,733/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$408/mo more in state tax than Colorado Springs

vs 4.4% in Colorado Springs

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$1,566 less than Colorado Springs

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

04a house here

$1010k

118% more expensive than Colorado Springs

vs $463k in Colorado Springs

05metro size

3.3M

vs 769k in Colorado Springs

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Colorado Springs only logs 184 pleasant days.

305% more happening than in Colorado Springs.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

6% higher than Colorado Springs

vs 71/100 in Colorado Springs

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

·walk score®

99/100

24% higher than Colorado Springs

vs 80/100 in Colorado Springs

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

400% more than Colorado Springs

vs 11 nonstops in Colorado Springs

04 · see also

neighbors of san diego on the map of tradeoffs:

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