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→Tucson
Tucson is the first U.S. city named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and the Sonoran hot dogs alone justify the trip. The saguaros stand around like skinny green sentries, the mountains ring the city in every direction, and the sunsets do that thing where the whole sky turns watermelon. The University of Arizona keeps the energy young. The monsoons in July are genuinely thrilling, and the dry desert nights keep the patios full long after dark.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,444/mo
$1,885/mo less than New York (131%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$352k
$387k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
2.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,681/mo
Tucson has $2,571/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
202 days
31 more than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
94 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Tucson has 93 more days above 95°F each year than New York. New York drops below 20°F on 19 more days per year than Tucson.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
66 / 100
12.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
16 routes
199 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
1.1M metro
New York has 118.4x more events per month than Tucson.
the verdict
3
New York
categories won
6
Tucson
categories won
Tucson wins on money and weather. New York has the edge on lifestyle.
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