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→Mobile
Mobile threw the first Mardi Gras in America (1703, predating New Orleans), and the city still celebrates it with the same parade-and-moon-pie energy. The historic district has wrought-iron balconies and live oaks dripping Spanish moss. Mobile Bay seafood (especially fried shrimp and crab claws) is the local star. It's Gulf Coast, French-Spanish-British-Creole layered, and chiller than its bigger neighbors.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,665/mo
$1,302/mo
$1,363/mo less than Miami (105%)
Median home price
Median home price
$565k
$194k
$371k less than Miami
State income tax
State income tax
0%
5.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,668/mo
$6,615/mo
Mobile has $947/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
225 days
47 fewer than Miami
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
3 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Miami edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
77 / 100
59 / 100
18.0 pts behind Miami
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
167 routes
5 routes
162 fewer direct routes than Miami
Metro size
Metro size
6.2M metro
412k metro
Miami has 41.1x more events per month than Mobile.
the verdict
4
Miami
categories won
3
Mobile
categories won
Miami wins on weather and lifestyle. Mobile has the edge on money.
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