$100k salary, packing up from Austin

change
Washington, DC cityscape

next stop after austin

Washington

dc · metro 6.3M

a dispatch from

washington

DC

38.91°N

77.04°W

Washington DC is power dressed in seersucker. The monuments glow at night, the Smithsonian museums are all free (yes, all of them), and the cherry blossoms in April make even cynical lobbyists pause for a selfie. It's one of the most international cities in America (embassies from everywhere), with food scenes to match. The vibe shifts every four years and the architecture stays magnificent through all of it.

metro6.3M

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,477

the monthly premium over Austin

Washington is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
landable, recorded on the washington entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,352/mo

49% more expensive than Austin(vs $1,583/mo)

02state income tax

8.5%

$708/mo more in state tax than Austin

vs 0% in Austin

03after rent

$5,273/mo

$1,477 less than Austin

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

04a house here

$626k

45% more expensive than Austin

vs $433k in Austin

05metro size

6.3M

vs 2.5M in Austin

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

177

pleasant days a year, in washington.

Austin only logs 170 pleasant days.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 1.3× more on the calendar than Austin.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

55% higher than Austin

vs 56/100 in Austin

Closest outdoor draw: George Washington Memorial Parkway, 6.2 mi.

·walk score®

98/100

1% lower than Austin

vs 99/100 in Austin

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

160

281% more than Austin

vs 42 nonstops in Austin

04 · see also

same energy as washington, different zip code:

compare washington with: