on $100k a year, leaving Austin

change
Sarasota, FL cityscape

next stop after austin

Sarasota

fl · metro 262k

photo: Jeffrey Eisen / pexels

a dispatch from

sarasota

FL

27.34°N

82.54°W

Sarasota is the home of the Ringling Brothers Circus (the museum is wild, and yes, there's a vintage clown college history), and Siesta Key's beach is regularly named the best in America for its pure quartz sand. The cultural scene is heavy for a Florida city of its size (theater, opera, art museum). Gulf sunsets here are the brochure shot. The food scene has caught up to the city's wealth and the retirees' time.

metro262k

in our guides

#10

of 10

Sunniest affordable US cities

read the guide
#10

of 10

Affordable cities to escape the cold

read the guide
#3

of 10

Low-tax cities with great weather

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities in states with no income tax

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities on the East Coast

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to live in Florida

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for a $150k salary

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for a $200k salary

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for foodies

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to leave San Diego for

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities to live in your 30s

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$538

pricier each month than Austin

Sarasota costs meaningfully more. Whether it earns that back in the day-to-day is the actual question.
landable, recorded on the sarasota entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,121/mo

34% more expensive than Austin(vs $1,583/mo)

02state income tax

0%

vs 0% in Austin

03after rent

$6,212/mo

$538 less than Austin

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

04a house here

$423k

3% cheaper than Austin

vs $433k in Austin

05metro size

262k

vs 2.5M in Austin

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in sarasota.

Austin only manages 170 of those.

But the calendar thins out: Austin stays 40.0× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

59/100

5% higher than Austin

vs 56/100 in Austin

Closest outdoor draw: Myakka River State Park, 15.9 mi.

·walk score®

96/100

3% lower than Austin

vs 99/100 in Austin

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

6

86% fewer than Austin

vs 42 nonstops in Austin

04 · see also

if sarasota appeals, also worth a look:

see also

myrtle beach

more flight options

turn the page

see also

wilmington

$71/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

pensacola

$369/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare sarasota with:

Myrtle BeachWilmingtonPensacola