on $100k a year, leaving Washington
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
under Washington, every month
Tucson sits well below Washington on cost. Same paycheck, a noticeably lighter month.
a quick ledger.
$1,444/mo
39% cheaper than Washington(vs $2,352/mo)
2.5%
$500/mo less in state tax than Washington
vs 8.5% in Washington
$6,681/mo
$1,408 more than Washington
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$352k
44% cheaper than Washington
vs $626k in Washington
1.1M
vs 6.3M in Washington
field notes, weather & such.
202
pleasant days a year, in tucson.
Washington only manages 177 of those. Bring the AC. 94 days a year clear 95°, well past Washington's 4.
Lighter on events: Washington packs 4.9× more into a month.
66/100
24% lower than Washington
vs 87/100 in Washington
Closest outdoor draw: Saguaro National Park, 16.6 mi.
67/100
32% lower than Washington
vs 98/100 in Washington
16
90% fewer than Washington
vs 160 nonstops in Washington
if tucson appeals, also worth a look:
compare tucson with:
