same $100k income, fresh start from Baltimore
changea dispatch from
south bend
IN
41.68°N
86.25°W
South Bend is Notre Dame, the Golden Dome, and the Touchdown Jesus mural visible from the football stadium. The St. Joseph River runs through downtown, and the East Bank district has the food and bar scene. The University of Notre Dame campus is genuinely beautiful (the basilica, the lakes, the grottos). Smaller than its national reputation suggests, with a steady college-town pulse.
the verdict
lighter monthly cost than Baltimore
Move to South Bend and the monthly math gets easier. Baltimore's rent is the headline; South Bend's is a footnote.
a quick ledger.
$1,391/mo
26% cheaper than Baltimore(vs $1,868/mo)
3%
$433/mo less in state tax than Baltimore
vs 8.2% in Baltimore
$6,692/mo
$910 more than Baltimore
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$230k
44% cheaper than Baltimore
vs $412k in Baltimore
324k
vs 2.8M in Baltimore
field notes, weather & such.
157
pleasant days a year, in south bend.
Baltimore actually gets more: 168 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 40 days below 20° here, 21 in Baltimore.
Lighter on events: Baltimore packs 3.9× more into a month.
53/100
20% lower than Baltimore
vs 66/100 in Baltimore
Closest outdoor draw: Indiana Dunes National Park, 62.8 mi.
82/100
16% lower than Baltimore
vs 98/100 in Baltimore
9
87% fewer than Baltimore
vs 72 nonstops in Baltimore
if south bend appeals, also worth a look:
