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→Nashville
Nashville is honky-tonk neon on Broadway, hot chicken so spicy it counts as a personality test, and a music scene that includes way more than country (though country is the headliner). The Ryman Auditorium is still the most acoustically beloved room in American music. Bachelorette parties on pedal taverns are now a recognized weather pattern. Pack stretchy pants for the biscuits.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,890/mo
$1,790/mo
$1,100/mo less than San Diego (61%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$461k
$549k less than San Diego
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,668/mo
$6,543/mo
Nashville has $1,875/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
173 days
159 fewer than San Diego
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
4 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
8 days
days below 20°F per year
Nashville drops below 20°F on 8 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
47 routes
8 fewer direct routes than San Diego
Metro size
Metro size
3.3M metro
2.1M metro
San Diego has 1.6x fewer events per month than Nashville.
the verdict
4
San Diego
categories won
4
Nashville
categories won
San Diego wins on weather and lifestyle, Nashville wins on money. Dead even.
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