$100k a year, no longer in Lancaster

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San Diego, CA cityscape

from lancaster

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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#5

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Best cities for parks and green space

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#2

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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

$1,893

more expensive each month than Lancaster

San Diego doesn't pretend to be affordable. Move here for what San Diego is, not for what it leaves on your monthly ledger.
landable, recorded on the san diego entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,890/mo

91% more expensive than Lancaster(vs $1,517/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$519/mo more in state tax than Lancaster

vs 3.07% in Lancaster

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$1,893 less than Lancaster

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

04a house here

$1010k

163% more expensive than Lancaster

vs $384k in Lancaster

05metro size

3.3M

vs 559k in Lancaster

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Lancaster only logs 158 pleasant days.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 11.6× more on the calendar than Lancaster.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

19% higher than Lancaster

vs 63/100 in Lancaster

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

·walk score®

99/100

2% higher than Lancaster

vs 97/100 in Lancaster

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

5400% more than Lancaster

vs 1 nonstops in Lancaster

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