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→Madison
Madison sits on an isthmus between two lakes, with the state capitol gleaming on one end and the University of Wisconsin sprawling on the other. The Saturday farmers market around the Capitol Square is one of the best in the country. Cheese curds, brats, and beer are mandatory food groups. The Terrace at Memorial Union, looking out at Lake Mendota, is the unofficial heart of the city in summer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,890/mo
$1,673/mo
$1,217/mo less than San Diego (73%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$465k
$546k less than San Diego
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,668/mo
$6,138/mo
Madison has $1,470/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
147 days
185 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
71 days
days below 20°F per year
Madison drops below 20°F on 71 more days per year than San Diego.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
75 / 100
67 / 100
8.0 pts behind San Diego
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
55 routes
11 routes
44 fewer direct routes than San Diego
Metro size
Metro size
3.3M metro
694k metro
San Diego has 4.3x more events per month than Madison.
the verdict
4
San Diego
categories won
4
Madison
categories won
San Diego wins on weather and lifestyle, Madison wins on money. Dead even.
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