$100k a year, no longer in Salinas

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

swapping out of salinas

Spartanburg

sc · metro 383k

photo: Jenny Gregg / pexels

a dispatch from

spartanburg

SC

34.95°N

81.93°W

Spartanburg is the Upstate of South Carolina, with rolling foothills, peach orchards (yes, South Carolina actually grows more peaches than Georgia in some years), and the largest BMW manufacturing plant in the world just outside town. The downtown's been revitalizing with breweries and restaurants. Wofford and Converse keep college energy in town. The Blue Ridge is right there.

metro383k

in our guides

#5

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#7

of 10

Most vibrant and affordable cities

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for retirees who love the outdoors

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for mild four-season weather

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to leave Los Angeles for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Austin

read the guide
#3

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Denver

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to leave Phoenix for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave Denver for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave Austin for

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities on the East Coast

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for a $75k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to buy a home

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities in the Carolinas

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for a $60k salary

read the guide
#1

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Boise

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,613

cheaper each month than Salinas

Spartanburg runs on a fraction of Salinas's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

49% cheaper than Salinas(vs $2,813/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$233/mo less in state tax than Salinas

vs 9.3% in Salinas

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$1,613 more than Salinas

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

04a house here

$277k

68% cheaper than Salinas

vs $862k in Salinas

05metro size

383k

vs 431k in Salinas

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Salinas has the edge here, logging 335 pleasant days a year.

·outdoorscore

68/100

4% lower than Salinas

vs 71/100 in Salinas

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

3% lower than Salinas

vs 79/100 in Salinas

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

233% more than Salinas

vs 6 nonstops in Salinas

04 · see also

neighbors of spartanburg on the map of tradeoffs:

see also

greenville

better weather

turn the page

see also

hickory

$166/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

richmond

similar overall lifestyle

turn the page

compare spartanburg with:

GreenvilleHickoryRichmond