$100k a year, no longer in Rochester

change
Seattle, WA cityscape

next stop after rochester

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

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for health and wellness

read the guide
#7

of 10

Most livable cities in America

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for mild four-season weather

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities in states with no income tax

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best places to move in 2026

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities for parks and green space

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for work-life balance

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities for a $150k salary

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities for a $200k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for outdoor athletes

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for cyclists

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for dog owners

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities in the Pacific Northwest

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to live in your 30s

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$172

the monthly cost of moving past Rochester

Seattle edges out a little pricier. Close enough that the decision rides on the days, not the dollars.
landable, recorded on the seattle entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,193/mo

43% more expensive than Rochester(vs $1,534/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$487/mo less in state tax than Rochester

vs 5.85% in Rochester

03after rent

$6,140/mo

$172 less than Rochester

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

04a house here

$791k

189% more expensive than Rochester

vs $273k in Rochester

05metro size

4.0M

vs 1.1M in Rochester

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

182

pleasant days a year, in seattle.

Rochester only manages 147 of those.

747% more happening than in Rochester.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

93/100

60% higher than Rochester

vs 58/100 in Rochester

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

·walk score®

98/100

42% higher than Rochester

vs 69/100 in Rochester

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

90

400% more than Rochester

vs 18 nonstops in Rochester

04 · see also

neighbors of seattle on the map of tradeoffs:

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