$100k salary, packing up from Durham
changea dispatch from
tucson
AZ
32.25°N
110.91°W
Tucson is the first U.S. city named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and the Sonoran hot dogs alone justify the trip. The saguaros stand around like skinny green sentries, the mountains ring the city in every direction, and the sunsets do that thing where the whole sky turns watermelon. The University of Arizona keeps the energy young. The monsoons in July are genuinely thrilling, and the dry desert nights keep the patios full long after dark.
in our guides
the verdict
less monthly outlay than Durham
The gap is real. Tucson costs noticeably less than Durham, every month.
a quick ledger.
$1,444/mo
14% cheaper than Durham(vs $1,684/mo)
2.5%
$167/mo less in state tax than Durham
vs 4.5% in Durham
$6,681/mo
$407 more than Durham
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$352k
15% cheaper than Durham
vs $415k in Durham
1.1M
vs 609k in Durham
field notes, weather & such.
202
pleasant days a year, in tucson.
Durham barely cracks 178 pleasant ones. Summer asks for something in return: 94 days top 95° here, 19 in Durham.
Comparable to Durham for events and concerts.
66/100
32% higher than Durham
vs 50/100 in Durham
Closest outdoor draw: Saguaro National Park, 16.6 mi.
67/100
16% lower than Durham
vs 80/100 in Durham
16
59% fewer than Durham
vs 39 nonstops in Durham
same energy as tucson, different zip code:
compare tucson with:
