$100k a year, no longer in Mobile
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.
in our guides
of 10
Best cities for remote workers
read the guideof 10
Best cities for health and wellness
read the guideof 10
Most livable cities in America
read the guideof 10
Best places to move in 2026
read the guideof 10
Best cities for parks and green space
read the guideof 10
Best cities for digital nomads
read the guideof 10
Best cities for dog owners
read the guidethe verdict
more each month than Mobile ran you
Washington costs noticeably more than Mobile. You'd be paying for Washington itself, not for breathing room around it.
a quick ledger.
$2,352/mo
81% more expensive than Mobile(vs $1,302/mo)
8.5%
$292/mo more in state tax than Mobile
vs 5% in Mobile
$5,273/mo
$1,342 less than Mobile
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$626k
223% more expensive than Mobile
vs $194k in Mobile
6.3M
vs 412k in Mobile
field notes, weather & such.
177
pleasant days a year, in washington.
Mobile has the edge here, logging 225 pleasant days a year.
A month here packs 6.7× the events of Mobile.
87/100
47% higher than Mobile
vs 59/100 in Mobile
Closest outdoor draw: George Washington Memorial Parkway, 6.2 mi.
98/100
42% higher than Mobile
vs 69/100 in Mobile
160
3100% more than Mobile
vs 5 nonstops in Mobile
in the same ballpark as washington:
