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→Washington
Washington DC is power dressed in seersucker. The monuments glow at night, the Smithsonian museums are all free (yes, all of them), and the cherry blossoms in April make even cynical lobbyists pause for a selfie. It's one of the most international cities in America (embassies from everywhere), with food scenes to match. The vibe shifts every four years and the architecture stays magnificent through all of it.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,890/mo
$2,352/mo
$538/mo less than San Diego (23%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$626k
$384k less than San Diego
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
8.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,668/mo
$5,273/mo
Washington has $605/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
177 days
155 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
11 days
days below 20°F per year
Washington drops below 20°F on 11 more days per year than San Diego.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
75 / 100
87 / 100
12.0 pts ahead of San Diego
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
55 routes
160 routes
105 more direct routes than San Diego
Metro size
Metro size
3.3M metro
6.3M metro
San Diego and Washington have similar event volume.
the verdict
2
San Diego
categories won
6
Washington
categories won
Washington wins on money and lifestyle. San Diego has the edge on weather.
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