$100k salary, packing up from Gainesville

change
San Diego, CA cityscape

from gainesville

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

$2,020

the monthly premium over Gainesville

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

76% more expensive than Gainesville(vs $1,645/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$775/mo more in state tax than Gainesville

vs 0% in Gainesville

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$2,020 less than Gainesville

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

04a house here

$1010k

219% more expensive than Gainesville

vs $317k in Gainesville

05metro size

3.3M

vs 350k in Gainesville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Gainesville keeps to 206 pleasant days a year.

A real upgrade on things to do: 58.0× Gainesville's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

19% higher than Gainesville

vs 63/100 in Gainesville

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

·walk score®

99/100

9% higher than Gainesville

vs 91/100 in Gainesville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

1000% more than Gainesville

vs 5 nonstops in Gainesville

04 · see also

cities that play in san diego's register:

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