$100k a year, no longer in Gainesville

change
Seattle, WA cityscape

instead of gainesville

Seattle

wa · metro 4.0M

photo: Thom Milkovic / unsplash

a dispatch from

seattle

WA

47.61°N

122.33°W

Seattle is coffee snobs, ferries crossing the sound, mountains in two directions, and misty mornings that make the espresso taste better. Pike Place still throws fish, the salmon is genuinely better here, and the Cascades sit right outside your window like a movie backdrop. The hippie greenmarket soul still runs through everything the tech money has built. Bring layers.

metro4.0M

in our guides

#7

of 10

Most walkable cities in America

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#5

of 10

Best cities for health and wellness

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#7

of 10

Most livable cities in America

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#6

of 10

Best cities for mild four-season weather

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#3

of 10

Best cities in states with no income tax

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#7

of 10

Best places to move in 2026

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#2

of 10

Best cities for parks and green space

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#7

of 10

Best cities for work-life balance

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#3

of 10

Best cities for a $150k salary

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#3

of 10

Best cities for a $200k salary

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#6

of 10

Best cities for outdoor athletes

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#6

of 10

Best cities for cyclists

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#4

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Best cities for dog owners

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#3

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Best cities in the Pacific Northwest

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#6

of 10

Best cities to live in your 30s

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$548

the monthly cost of moving past Gainesville

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

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,193/mo

33% more expensive than Gainesville(vs $1,645/mo)

02state income tax

0%

vs 0% in Gainesville

03after rent

$6,140/mo

$548 less than Gainesville

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

04a house here

$791k

150% more expensive than Gainesville

vs $317k in Gainesville

05metro size

4.0M

vs 350k in Gainesville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

182

pleasant days a year, in seattle.

Gainesville gets 206 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

A real upgrade on things to do: 84.7× Gainesville's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

93/100

48% higher than Gainesville

vs 63/100 in Gainesville

Closest outdoor draw: Mount Rainier National Park, 59.8 mi.

·walk score®

98/100

8% higher than Gainesville

vs 91/100 in Gainesville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

90

1700% more than Gainesville

vs 5 nonstops in Gainesville

04 · see also

same energy as seattle, different zip code:

see also

portland

similar overall lifestyle

turn the page

see also

trenton

more flight options

turn the page

see also

salt lake city

$198/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare seattle with:

PortlandTrentonSalt Lake City