01 · the cities
New York
New York is the city that refuses to take a nap. Five boroughs of bodegas, bagels, late-night dollar slices, and entire neighborhoods that switch languages every six blocks. The subway is a 472-station miracle that runs all night, and Central Park is the green lung that keeps Manhattan sane. You will spend more than you planned and love every minute of it.
full dispatch→San Diego
San Diego is the city most Californians secretly wish they lived in: 70°F, sunny, and a beach for every mood. Fish tacos are religion, Balboa Park is bigger than Central Park and packed with museums, and the craft beer scene is one of the best in the country. The zoo is world-famous and the burritos are aggressively underrated. Even the freeways feel relaxed here.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$2,890/mo
$439/mo less than New York (15%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$1.0M
$271k more than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
9.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$4,668/mo
San Diego has $558/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
171 days
332 days
161 more than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
New York drops below 20°F on 19 more days per year than San Diego.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
75 / 100
3.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
55 routes
160 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
3.3M metro
New York has 22.5x more events per month than San Diego.
the verdict
3
New York
categories won
5
San Diego
categories won
San Diego wins on money and weather. New York has the edge on lifestyle.
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