with $100k coming in, swapping out of Fayetteville

change
Sarasota, FL cityscape

instead of fayetteville

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

$269

more expensive each month than Fayetteville

Sarasota costs more than Fayetteville, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
landable, recorded on the sarasota entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,121/mo

44% more expensive than Fayetteville(vs $1,477/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$375/mo less in state tax than Fayetteville

vs 4.5% in Fayetteville

03after rent

$6,212/mo

$269 less than Fayetteville

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

04a house here

$423k

64% more expensive than Fayetteville

vs $258k in Fayetteville

05metro size

262k

vs 392k in Fayetteville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in sarasota.

Fayetteville only logs 193 pleasant days.

Lighter on events: Fayetteville packs 5.0× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

59/100

16% higher than Fayetteville

vs 51/100 in Fayetteville

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

·walk score®

96/100

26% higher than Fayetteville

vs 76/100 in Fayetteville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

6

50% more than Fayetteville

vs 4 nonstops in Fayetteville

04 · see also

same energy as sarasota, different zip code:

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