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→Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs sits at the foot of Pikes Peak (which inspired America the Beautiful), with the Garden of the Gods' red rock formations rising on the city's western edge. The Air Force Academy chapel is one of the most striking pieces of modernist religious architecture in the country. It's drier and sunnier than people expect, with strong evangelical and military communities shaping the city's character. Outdoorsy in a quiet way.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$1,733/mo
$1,166/mo less than Los Angeles (67%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$463k
$567k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,234/mo
Colorado Springs has $1,575/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
184 days
99 fewer than Los Angeles
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
75 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 19 more days above 95°F each year than Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs drops below 20°F on 75 more days per year than Los Angeles.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
71 / 100
4.0 pts ahead of Los Angeles
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
11 routes
139 fewer direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
769k metro
Los Angeles has 8.1x more events per month than Colorado Springs.
the verdict
3
Los Angeles
categories won
6
Colorado Springs
categories won
Colorado Springs wins on money. Los Angeles has the edge on weather.
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