01 · the cities
Miami
Miami is Spanish before it's English, salsa before it's small talk, and a cortadito before it's a coffee. South Beach Art Deco glows pink at night, Wynwood is a city-sized mural, and the Cuban sandwiches in Little Havana could end fights. Summer is bath-warm ocean and ceiling fans turned up high, and October feels like everywhere else's perfect August. Bring linen.
full dispatch→Buffalo
Buffalo invented the wing (Anchor Bar, 1964, midnight, blue cheese, celery, not negotiable) and that should tell you most of what you need to know about the city's spirit. The Bills Mafia jumps through tables in subzero parking lots. Niagara Falls is 20 minutes away. The architecture (Sullivan, Wright, Olmsted parks) is genuinely world-class. The snow is part of the local mythology and the locals wear it proudly.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,665/mo
$1,374/mo
$1,291/mo less than Miami (94%)
Median home price
Median home price
$565k
$280k
$285k less than Miami
State income tax
State income tax
0%
5.9%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,668/mo
$6,472/mo
Buffalo has $804/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
272 days
152 days
120 fewer than Miami
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
42 days
days below 20°F per year
Buffalo drops below 20°F on 42 more days per year than Miami.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
77 / 100
66 / 100
11.0 pts behind Miami
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
167 routes
20 routes
147 fewer direct routes than Miami
Metro size
Metro size
6.2M metro
1.2M metro
Miami has 14.5x more events per month than Buffalo.
the verdict
5
Miami
categories won
3
Buffalo
categories won
Miami wins on weather and lifestyle. Buffalo has the edge on money.
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