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→Phoenix
Phoenix is sun, saguaros, and a valley so wide you can drive 45 minutes in a straight line and still be in greater Phoenix. The Sonoran Desert blooms wildly in spring, the monsoon storms in late summer are theatrical, and the hiking on Camelback or Piestewa Peak is a sunrise ritual. Pools and shaded patios are basically infrastructure, and the locals have the rhythm of a desert day dialed.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$1,739/mo
$1,160/mo less than Los Angeles (67%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$458k
$571k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
2.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,386/mo
Phoenix has $1,727/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
181 days
102 fewer than Los Angeles
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 days
133 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Phoenix has 114 more days above 95°F each year than Los Angeles.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
66 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
91 routes
59 fewer direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
5.1M metro
Los Angeles has 1.7x more events per month than Phoenix.
the verdict
3
Los Angeles
categories won
4
Phoenix
categories won
Phoenix wins on money. Los Angeles has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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