on $100k a year, leaving Chicago
changea dispatch from
syracuse
NY
43.05°N
76.15°W
Syracuse averages around 120 inches of snow per year, which is the most of any major U.S. city, and locals wear it like a badge. The Carrier Dome (now JMA Wireless Dome) is the largest on-campus arena in the country. The food scene leans Italian (Salt City was an Italian immigrant hub) and excellent. The Finger Lakes are right next door. Bring boots.
the verdict
under Chicago, every month
Syracuse gives you room Chicago doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
a quick ledger.
$1,619/mo
25% cheaper than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)
5.85%
$75/mo more in state tax than Chicago
vs 4.95% in Chicago
$6,227/mo
$476 more than Chicago
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$254k
30% cheaper than Chicago
vs $365k in Chicago
653k
vs 9.3M in Chicago
field notes, weather & such.
142
pleasant days a year, in syracuse.
Chicago gets 153 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine. Winter has bite, though: 53 days drop below 20° vs Chicago's 38.
Chicago hosts 18.5× more events.
59/100
16% lower than Chicago
vs 70/100 in Chicago
Closest outdoor draw: Green Lakes State Park, 9.9 mi.
91/100
9% lower than Chicago
vs 100/100 in Chicago
16
93% fewer than Chicago
vs 217 nonstops in Chicago
same energy as syracuse, different zip code:
compare syracuse with:
