01 · the cities
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 88 cities pretending to be one, connected by freeways and a shared love of really good tacos. Every neighborhood is its own scene: surfers in Venice, the Korean grandmas of K-town, mountains rising behind Pasadena, Persian rugs in Westwood. The light at golden hour is so good it makes Instagram filters jealous. Roll the windows down at golden hour, put on a playlist, and let the city stretch out.
full dispatch→Atlanta
Atlanta is hip-hop's current capital, with 'Peachtree' in seemingly every other street name and the busiest airport in the world acting as the city's front door. The Beltline turned old rail corridors into a 22-mile loop of murals, breweries, and joggers. Food culture spans soul food, Vietnamese banh mi in Buford Highway strip malls, and barbecue. The tree canopy is one of the densest in any major American city.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$1,814/mo
$1,085/mo less than Los Angeles (60%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$386k
$643k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
5.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,062/mo
Atlanta has $1,403/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
283 days
204 days
79 fewer than Los Angeles
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
2 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 17 more days above 95°F each year than Atlanta.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
67 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
217 routes
67 more direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
6.3M metro
Los Angeles has 1.5x more events per month than Atlanta.
the verdict
1
Los Angeles
categories won
6
Atlanta
categories won
Atlanta wins this comparison, leading on money and lifestyle.
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