$100k salary, packing up from Salinas

change
Sarasota, FL cityscape

swapping out of salinas

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

$1,467

less monthly outlay than Salinas

In Sarasota, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
landable, recorded on the sarasota entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,121/mo

25% cheaper than Salinas(vs $2,813/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$775/mo less in state tax than Salinas

vs 9.3% in Salinas

03after rent

$6,212/mo

$1,467 more than Salinas

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

04a house here

$423k

51% cheaper than Salinas

vs $862k in Salinas

05metro size

262k

vs 431k in Salinas

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in sarasota.

Salinas edges ahead with 335 pleasant days.

·outdoorscore

59/100

17% lower than Salinas

vs 71/100 in Salinas

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

·walk score®

96/100

22% higher than Salinas

vs 79/100 in Salinas

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

6

0% fewer than Salinas

vs 6 nonstops in Salinas

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as sarasota:

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