with $100k coming in, swapping out of Honolulu

change
San Diego, CA cityscape

next stop after honolulu

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

$94

cheaper each month than Honolulu

Money-wise it's a wash. The case for San Diego is everything that isn't rent.
landable, recorded on the san diego entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,890/mo

2% more expensive than Honolulu(vs $2,843/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$142/mo less in state tax than Honolulu

vs 11% in Honolulu

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$94 more than Honolulu

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

04a house here

$1010k

5% cheaper than Honolulu

vs $1061k in Honolulu

05metro size

3.3M

vs 989k in Honolulu

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Honolulu keeps to 316 pleasant days a year.

83% more happening than in Honolulu.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

36% higher than Honolulu

vs 55/100 in Honolulu

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

·walk score®

99/100

0% lower than Honolulu

vs 99/100 in Honolulu

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

8% more than Honolulu

vs 51 nonstops in Honolulu

04 · see also

if san diego appeals, also worth a look:

see also

oxnard

better weather

turn the page

see also

san luis obispo

more things to do

turn the page

see also

naples

$946/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare san diego with:

OxnardSan Luis ObispoNaples