with $100k coming in, swapping out of Virginia Beach

change
San Diego, CA cityscape

next stop after virginia beach

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

$1,367

pricier each month than Virginia Beach

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

59% more expensive than Virginia Beach(vs $1,819/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$296/mo more in state tax than Virginia Beach

vs 5.75% in Virginia Beach

03after rent

$4,668/mo

$1,367 less than Virginia Beach

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

04a house here

$1010k

169% more expensive than Virginia Beach

vs $375k in Virginia Beach

05metro size

3.3M

vs 1.8M in Virginia Beach

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

332

pleasant days a year, in san diego.

Virginia Beach barely cracks 211 pleasant ones.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 5.8× more on the calendar than Virginia Beach.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

75/100

32% higher than Virginia Beach

vs 57/100 in Virginia Beach

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

·walk score®

99/100

13% higher than Virginia Beach

vs 88/100 in Virginia Beach

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

55

224% more than Virginia Beach

vs 17 nonstops in Virginia Beach

04 · see also

neighbors of san diego on the map of tradeoffs:

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