same $100k income, fresh start from Grand Rapids

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San Diego, CA cityscape

next stop after grand rapids

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

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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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#2

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Best cities with mild winters

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,691

pricier each month than Grand Rapids

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

78% more expensive than Grand Rapids(vs $1,620/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$421/mo more in state tax than Grand Rapids

vs 4.25% in Grand Rapids

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$1,691 less than Grand Rapids

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

04a house here

$1010k

186% more expensive than Grand Rapids

vs $353k in Grand Rapids

05metro size

3.3M

vs 1.2M in Grand Rapids

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Grand Rapids barely cracks 151 pleasant ones.

2.5× the events of Grand Rapids, and the calendar shows it.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

34% higher than Grand Rapids

vs 56/100 in Grand Rapids

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

·walk score®

99/100

2% higher than Grand Rapids

vs 97/100 in Grand Rapids

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

175% more than Grand Rapids

vs 20 nonstops in Grand Rapids

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