$100k salary, packing up from Chicago
changea 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.
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the monthly premium over Chicago
Washington costs meaningfully more. Whether it earns that back in the day-to-day is the actual question.
a quick ledger.
$2,352/mo
8% more expensive than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)
8.5%
$296/mo more in state tax than Chicago
vs 4.95% in Chicago
$5,273/mo
$478 less than Chicago
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$626k
72% more expensive than Chicago
vs $365k in Chicago
6.3M
vs 9.3M in Chicago
field notes, weather & such.
177
pleasant days a year, in washington.
Chicago only manages 153 of those.
Lighter on events: Chicago packs 8.0× more into a month.
87/100
24% higher than Chicago
vs 70/100 in Chicago
Closest outdoor draw: George Washington Memorial Parkway, 6.2 mi.
98/100
2% lower than Chicago
vs 100/100 in Chicago
160
26% fewer than Chicago
vs 217 nonstops in Chicago
if washington appeals, also worth a look:
