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→Milwaukee
Milwaukee is beer (the Pabst and Miller legacy still hangs in the air), bratwurst (with the proper amount of mustard, please), and a Lake Michigan shoreline that goes on forever. Frozen custard is a regional specialty and a serious one. The Calatrava-designed art museum has wings that literally open and close on Lake Michigan. Friendly here means you'll have a new friend by the second beer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,890/mo
$1,504/mo
$1,386/mo less than San Diego (92%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$394k
$616k 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
$6,307/mo
Milwaukee has $1,639/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
149 days
183 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
62 days
days below 20°F per year
Milwaukee drops below 20°F on 62 more days per year than San Diego.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
75 / 100
61 / 100
14.0 pts behind San Diego
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
55 routes
30 routes
25 fewer direct routes than San Diego
Metro size
Metro size
3.3M metro
1.6M metro
San Diego has 2.5x more events per month than Milwaukee.
the verdict
4
San Diego
categories won
4
Milwaukee
categories won
San Diego wins on weather and lifestyle, Milwaukee wins on money. Dead even.
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