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→Washington
Washington DC is power dressed in seersucker. The monuments glow at night, the Smithsonian museums are all free (yes, all of them), and the cherry blossoms in April make even cynical lobbyists pause for a selfie. It's one of the most international cities in America (embassies from everywhere), with food scenes to match. The vibe shifts every four years and the architecture stays magnificent through all of it.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$2,352/mo
$547/mo less than Los Angeles (23%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$626k
$403k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
8.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$5,273/mo
Washington has $614/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
177 days
106 fewer than Los Angeles
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 days
4 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
11 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 15 more days above 95°F each year than Washington. Washington drops below 20°F on 11 more days per year than Los Angeles.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
87 / 100
20.0 pts ahead of Los Angeles
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
160 routes
10 more direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
6.3M metro
Los Angeles has 2.2x more events per month than Washington.
the verdict
2
Los Angeles
categories won
7
Washington
categories won
Washington wins on money and lifestyle. Los Angeles has the edge on weather.
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