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→Melbourne
Palm Bay is part of the Space Coast, which means you can watch SpaceX and NASA rocket launches from the backyard on a clear day. The Indian River Lagoon is right there for fishing, kayaking, and manatee spotting. It's quieter and more affordable than the bigger Florida metros, with quick access to Cocoa Beach and Kennedy Space Center. Suburban in a Florida way.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$1,895/mo
$1,004/mo less than Los Angeles (53%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$351k
$678k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,438/mo
Melbourne has $1,779/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
254 days
29 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
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 19 more days above 95°F each year than Melbourne.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
55 / 100
12.0 pts behind Los Angeles
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
2 routes
148 fewer direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
644k metro
the verdict
3
Los Angeles
categories won
5
Melbourne
categories won
Melbourne wins on money. Los Angeles has the edge on lifestyle.
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