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→Mobile
Mobile threw the first Mardi Gras in America (1703, predating New Orleans), and the city still celebrates it with the same parade-and-moon-pie energy. The historic district has wrought-iron balconies and live oaks dripping Spanish moss. Mobile Bay seafood (especially fried shrimp and crab claws) is the local star. It's Gulf Coast, French-Spanish-British-Creole layered, and chiller than its bigger neighbors.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$1,302/mo
$1,597/mo less than Los Angeles (123%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$194k
$836k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
5.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,615/mo
Mobile has $1,956/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
225 days
58 fewer than Los Angeles
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 days
3 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 16 more days above 95°F each year than Mobile.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
59 / 100
8.0 pts behind Los Angeles
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
5 routes
145 fewer direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
412k metro
Los Angeles has 14.5x more events per month than Mobile.
the verdict
3
Los Angeles
categories won
5
Mobile
categories won
Mobile wins on money. Los Angeles has the edge on lifestyle.
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