same $100k income, fresh start from Grand Rapids

change
Washington, DC cityscape

swapping out of grand rapids

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

$1,086

more expensive each month than Grand Rapids

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

45% more expensive than Grand Rapids(vs $1,620/mo)

02state income tax

8.5%

$354/mo more in state tax than Grand Rapids

vs 4.25% in Grand Rapids

03after rent

$5,273/mo

$1,086 less than Grand Rapids

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

04a house here

$626k

78% more expensive than Grand Rapids

vs $353k in Grand Rapids

05metro size

6.3M

vs 1.2M in Grand Rapids

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

177

pleasant days a year, in washington.

Grand Rapids only logs 151 pleasant days.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 2.3× more on the calendar than Grand Rapids.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

55% higher than Grand Rapids

vs 56/100 in Grand Rapids

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

·walk score®

98/100

1% higher than Grand Rapids

vs 97/100 in Grand Rapids

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

160

700% more than Grand Rapids

vs 20 nonstops in Grand Rapids

04 · see also

same energy as washington, different zip code:

compare washington with: