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→Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids has won Beer City USA multiple times, hosts ArtPrize (one of the world's largest open art competitions every fall), and built itself on furniture (Steelcase, Herman Miller). The Frederik Meijer Sculpture Park is a sleeper world-class attraction. Downtown is walkable, the surrounding farmland is gorgeous in autumn, and Lake Michigan beaches are 30 minutes west. Quietly excellent.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,890/mo
$1,620/mo
$1,270/mo less than San Diego (78%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$353k
$658k less than San Diego
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,668/mo
$6,359/mo
Grand Rapids has $1,691/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
151 days
181 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
50 days
days below 20°F per year
Grand Rapids drops below 20°F on 50 more days per year than San Diego.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
75 / 100
56 / 100
19.0 pts behind San Diego
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
55 routes
20 routes
35 fewer direct routes than San Diego
Metro size
Metro size
3.3M metro
1.2M metro
San Diego has 2.5x more events per month than Grand Rapids.
the verdict
4
San Diego
categories won
4
Grand Rapids
categories won
San Diego wins on weather and lifestyle, Grand Rapids wins on money. Dead even.
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