same $100k income, fresh start from Lexington

change
San Diego, CA cityscape

instead of lexington

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

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#3

of 10

Best cities for health and wellness

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#5

of 10

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

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

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#2

of 10

Best cities to live in California

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#2

of 10

Best cities for dog owners

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#2

of 10

Best cities with mild winters

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,802

pricier each month than Lexington

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

94% more expensive than Lexington(vs $1,488/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$400/mo more in state tax than Lexington

vs 4.5% in Lexington

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$1,802 less than Lexington

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

04a house here

$1010k

211% more expensive than Lexington

vs $324k in Lexington

05metro size

3.3M

vs 520k in Lexington

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Lexington barely cracks 171 pleasant ones.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 4.1× more on the calendar than Lexington.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

25% higher than Lexington

vs 60/100 in Lexington

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

·walk score®

99/100

13% higher than Lexington

vs 88/100 in Lexington

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

323% more than Lexington

vs 13 nonstops in Lexington

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