01 · the cities
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→Anchorage
Anchorage is the city where moose sometimes wander into downtown, the Chugach Mountains tower right behind your office, and summer days run 19 hours long. The Iditarod sled-dog race kicks off from here every March. The food scene leans heavily on the world-class salmon and halibut coming off the boats. Winter brings the northern lights flickering above the mountains and the kind of quiet you only find this far north. Wild edge.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,890/mo
$1,713/mo
$1,177/mo less than San Diego (69%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$438k
$572k less than San Diego
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,668/mo
$6,620/mo
Anchorage has $1,952/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
332 days
93 days
239 fewer than San Diego
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
91 days
days below 20°F per year
Anchorage drops below 20°F on 91 more days per year than San Diego.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
75 / 100
68 / 100
7.0 pts behind San Diego
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
55 routes
34 routes
21 fewer direct routes than San Diego
Metro size
Metro size
3.3M metro
401k metro
the verdict
4
San Diego
categories won
4
Anchorage
categories won
San Diego wins on weather and lifestyle, Anchorage wins on money. Dead even.
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