same $100k income, fresh start from Chicago
changea dispatch from
santa rosa
CA
38.44°N
122.71°W
Santa Rosa is the gateway to Sonoma wine country, less polished than Napa but more lived-in. Charles Schulz lived here and the Snoopy museum is a delight. The Russian River redwoods are 30 minutes west. The city itself has rebuilt impressively after the 2017 fires, with a downtown that mixes wineries, breweries, and farm-to-table restaurants. Cooler than San Francisco in summer.
the verdict
more expensive each month than Chicago
You'd pay for Santa Rosa. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
a quick ledger.
$2,597/mo
20% more expensive than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)
9.3%
$363/mo more in state tax than Chicago
vs 4.95% in Chicago
$4,961/mo
$790 less than Chicago
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$817k
124% more expensive than Chicago
vs $365k in Chicago
482k
vs 9.3M in Chicago
field notes, weather & such.
254
pleasant days a year, in santa rosa.
Chicago only manages 153 of those. Summer is real but not punishing: 28 days top 95° vs Chicago's 1.
Lighter on events: Chicago packs 1295.0× more into a month.
69/100
1% lower than Chicago
vs 70/100 in Chicago
Closest outdoor draw: Sonoma Coast State Park, 17.4 mi.
98/100
2% lower than Chicago
vs 100/100 in Chicago
4
98% fewer than Chicago
vs 217 nonstops in Chicago
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