same $100k income, fresh start from Madison

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San Diego, CA cityscape

from madison

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

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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

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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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Best cities for cyclists

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#2

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Best cities for dog owners

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#2

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Best cities with mild winters

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,470

pricier each month than Madison

A real premium for San Diego. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
landable, recorded on the san diego entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,890/mo

73% more expensive than Madison(vs $1,673/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$252/mo more in state tax than Madison

vs 6.27% in Madison

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$1,470 less than Madison

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

04a house here

$1010k

118% more expensive than Madison

vs $465k in Madison

05metro size

3.3M

vs 694k in Madison

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Madison only manages 147 of those.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 4.3× more on the calendar than Madison.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

12% higher than Madison

vs 67/100 in Madison

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

·walk score®

99/100

13% higher than Madison

vs 88/100 in Madison

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

400% more than Madison

vs 11 nonstops in Madison

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as san diego:

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