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→Milwaukee
Milwaukee is beer (the Pabst and Miller legacy still hangs in the air), bratwurst (with the proper amount of mustard, please), and a Lake Michigan shoreline that goes on forever. Frozen custard is a regional specialty and a serious one. The Calatrava-designed art museum has wings that literally open and close on Lake Michigan. Friendly here means you'll have a new friend by the second beer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$1,504/mo
$1,395/mo less than Los Angeles (93%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$394k
$635k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,307/mo
Milwaukee has $1,648/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
149 days
134 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
62 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 19 more days above 95°F each year than Milwaukee. Milwaukee drops below 20°F on 62 more days per year than Los Angeles.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
61 / 100
6.0 pts behind Los Angeles
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
30 routes
120 fewer direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
1.6M metro
Los Angeles has 5.0x more events per month than Milwaukee.
the verdict
4
Los Angeles
categories won
5
Milwaukee
categories won
Milwaukee wins on money. Los Angeles has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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