same $100k income, fresh start from Pensacola

change
San Diego, CA cityscape

instead of pensacola

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

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities for health and wellness

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for parks and green space

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to escape the heat

read the guide
#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

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to live in California

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities for dog owners

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities with mild winters

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,913

more expensive each month than Pensacola

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

65% more expensive than Pensacola(vs $1,752/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$775/mo more in state tax than Pensacola

vs 0% in Pensacola

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$1,913 less than Pensacola

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

04a house here

$1010k

234% more expensive than Pensacola

vs $303k in Pensacola

05metro size

3.3M

vs 530k in Pensacola

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Pensacola barely cracks 226 pleasant ones.

A real upgrade on things to do: 6.7× Pensacola's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

9% higher than Pensacola

vs 69/100 in Pensacola

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

·walk score®

99/100

55% higher than Pensacola

vs 64/100 in Pensacola

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

400% more than Pensacola

vs 11 nonstops in Pensacola

04 · see also

same energy as san diego, different zip code:

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