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→Boulder
Boulder is the Flatirons rising right behind town, the Pearl Street Mall pedestrian shopping, and a population that runs more, climbs more, and bikes more than basically any other American city. CU keeps it young, the foothills keep it active, and the food scene leans organic-virtuous. The access to the Rockies is unmatched and the sunshine is relentless, and locals invest in the city like it's a lifestyle, not just an address.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,890/mo
$2,216/mo
$674/mo less than San Diego (30%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$783k
$227k less than San Diego
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,668/mo
$5,751/mo
Boulder has $1,083/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
178 days
154 fewer than San Diego
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
13 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
42 days
days below 20°F per year
Boulder has 13 more days above 95°F each year than San Diego. Boulder drops below 20°F on 42 more days per year than San Diego.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
75 / 100
79 / 100
4.0 pts ahead of San Diego
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
55 routes
169 routes
114 more direct routes than San Diego
Metro size
Metro size
3.3M metro
327k metro
San Diego has 29.0x more events per month than Boulder.
the verdict
3
San Diego
categories won
6
Boulder
categories won
Boulder wins on money and lifestyle. San Diego has the edge on weather.
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