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→Madison
Madison sits on an isthmus between two lakes, with the state capitol gleaming on one end and the University of Wisconsin sprawling on the other. The Saturday farmers market around the Capitol Square is one of the best in the country. Cheese curds, brats, and beer are mandatory food groups. The Terrace at Memorial Union, looking out at Lake Mendota, is the unofficial heart of the city in summer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,665/mo
$1,673/mo
$992/mo less than Miami (59%)
Median home price
Median home price
$565k
$465k
$100k less than Miami
State income tax
State income tax
0%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,668/mo
$6,138/mo
Madison has $470/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
147 days
125 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
71 days
days below 20°F per year
Madison drops below 20°F on 71 more days per year than Miami.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
77 / 100
67 / 100
10.0 pts behind Miami
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
167 routes
11 routes
156 fewer direct routes than Miami
Metro size
Metro size
6.2M metro
694k metro
Miami has 24.6x more events per month than Madison.
the verdict
5
Miami
categories won
3
Madison
categories won
Miami wins on weather and lifestyle. Madison has the edge on money.
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