same $100k income, fresh start from Lubbock

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San Diego, CA cityscape

next stop after lubbock

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

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#1

of 10

Best cities for outdoor athletes

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#2

of 10

Best cities with year-round outdoor weather

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#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

$2,281

more expensive each month than Lubbock

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

109% more expensive than Lubbock(vs $1,384/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$775/mo more in state tax than Lubbock

vs 0% in Lubbock

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$2,281 less than Lubbock

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

04a house here

$1010k

380% more expensive than Lubbock

vs $211k in Lubbock

05metro size

3.3M

vs 360k in Lubbock

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Lubbock barely cracks 186 pleasant ones.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 21.8× more on the calendar than Lubbock.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

1400% higher than Lubbock

vs 5/100 in Lubbock

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

·walk score®

99/100

43% higher than Lubbock

vs 69/100 in Lubbock

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

686% more than Lubbock

vs 7 nonstops in Lubbock

04 · see also

cities that play in san diego's register:

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