on $100k a year, leaving Seattle

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Spartanburg, SC cityscape

from seattle

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

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$218

lighter monthly cost than Seattle

Spartanburg gives you room Seattle doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

35% cheaper than Seattle(vs $2,193/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$542/mo more in state tax than Seattle

vs 0% in Seattle

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$218 more than Seattle

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

04a house here

$277k

65% cheaper than Seattle

vs $791k in Seattle

05metro size

383k

vs 4.0M in Seattle

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Seattle barely cracks 182 pleasant ones.

94% fewer events than Seattle. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

27% lower than Seattle

vs 93/100 in Seattle

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

21% lower than Seattle

vs 98/100 in Seattle

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

78% fewer than Seattle

vs 90 nonstops in Seattle

04 · see also

same energy as spartanburg, different zip code:

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