with $100k coming in, swapping out of Madison
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
below Madison's monthly cost
You'd feel the difference in Tucson. Not life-changing money, but real breathing room next to Madison.
a quick ledger.
$1,444/mo
14% cheaper than Madison(vs $1,673/mo)
2.5%
$314/mo less in state tax than Madison
vs 6.27% in Madison
$6,681/mo
$543 more than Madison
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$352k
24% cheaper than Madison
vs $465k in Madison
1.1M
vs 694k in Madison
field notes, weather & such.
202
pleasant days a year, in tucson.
Madison only manages 147 of those. The trade is summer: 94 days above 95°, vs 0 in Madison.
A similar weekend lineup to Madison.
66/100
1% lower than Madison
vs 67/100 in Madison
Closest outdoor draw: Saguaro National Park, 16.6 mi.
67/100
24% lower than Madison
vs 88/100 in Madison
16
45% more than Madison
vs 11 nonstops in Madison
cities that play in tucson's register:
compare tucson with:
