$100k salary, packing up from Buffalo

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Washington, DC cityscape

from buffalo

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

$1,199

the monthly cost of moving past Buffalo

Washington doesn't pretend to be affordable. Move here for what Washington is, not for what it leaves on your monthly ledger.
landable, recorded on the washington entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,352/mo

71% more expensive than Buffalo(vs $1,374/mo)

02state income tax

8.5%

$221/mo more in state tax than Buffalo

vs 5.85% in Buffalo

03after rent

$5,273/mo

$1,199 less than Buffalo

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

04a house here

$626k

124% more expensive than Buffalo

vs $280k in Buffalo

05metro size

6.3M

vs 1.2M in Buffalo

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

177

pleasant days a year, in washington.

Buffalo only logs 152 pleasant days.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 2.4× more on the calendar than Buffalo.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

32% higher than Buffalo

vs 66/100 in Buffalo

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

·walk score®

98/100

8% higher than Buffalo

vs 91/100 in Buffalo

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

160

700% more than Buffalo

vs 20 nonstops in Buffalo

04 · see also

same energy as washington, different zip code:

compare washington with: