$100k a year, no longer in Las Vegas

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San Diego, CA cityscape

from las vegas

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

of 10

Best cities for live music and arts

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#3

of 10

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

of 10

Best cities to escape the heat

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#9

of 10

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

of 10

Best cities with year-round outdoor weather

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#1

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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

$1,934

the monthly cost of moving past Las Vegas

San Diego costs noticeably more than Las Vegas. You'd be paying for San Diego itself, not for breathing room around it.
landable, recorded on the san diego entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,890/mo

67% more expensive than Las Vegas(vs $1,731/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$775/mo more in state tax than Las Vegas

vs 0% in Las Vegas

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$1,934 less than Las Vegas

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

04a house here

$1010k

124% more expensive than Las Vegas

vs $451k in Las Vegas

05metro size

3.3M

vs 2.3M in Las Vegas

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Las Vegas only manages 210 of those.

Noticeably quieter than Las Vegas. About 95% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

6% lower than Las Vegas

vs 80/100 in Las Vegas

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

·walk score®

99/100

21% higher than Las Vegas

vs 82/100 in Las Vegas

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

59% fewer than Las Vegas

vs 133 nonstops in Las Vegas

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