347 metros leave you better off than New York

Pharmacist earning $163,500 in New York, NY. One adult, renting a 1-bedroom. You keep $3,785 a month today.

Your best overall match

Seattle, WA

+$2,610/mo (+$31,320 a year) versus New York

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Left blank, so we use the local median for this job.

Your pay moves with the local market for your job.

Rent is priced at the bedroom count you need in each metro.

0

Suggested for your household.

What matters to you?

1 means leave it out of the ranking, 5 means it decides the ranking.

5 Deal-breaker

What is left after tax, rent and the month's bills.

2 A little

Sunshine, and summers and winters that are not extreme.

2 A little

Population and density, rather than small-town scale.

Every metro on the map

Coloured by this ranking. Click a dot for the city page; right-click or long-press to compare, set home, zoom or copy a link.

SeattleMidlandAustinWashingtonSan FranciscoBismarckDenverManchesterNashvilleJacksonville
Best fitMiddle thirdWeakest fitWhere you live now · $3,785/moDot size is population. 383 metros in the 48 states; 4 outside the frame. Best best fit: Seattle, WA. Right-click or long-press for actions.

1

Seattle, WA

No state income tax and high wages, offset by home prices and 150 sunny days.

No state income taxCar optional

Left over monthly

$6,395

+$2,610 vs today

Local pay
$164,874
Rent (1br)
$1,761/mo
Take-home
$10,287/mo
Everything else
$2,131/mo
Money left over
100
Sun and mild weather
49
Being in a big city
82
2

Midland, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,516 and 263 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.

No state income tax263 sunny days22-min commute

Left over monthly

$6,182

+$2,397 vs today

Local pay
$148,249
Rent (1br)
$1,273/mo
Take-home
$9,340/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
94
Sun and mild weather
78
Being in a big city
34
3

Austin, TX

No income tax, but property taxes are among the steepest anywhere.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,793

+$2,008 vs today

Local pay
$142,891
Rent (1br)
$1,226/mo
Take-home
$9,035/mo
Everything else
$2,016/mo
Money left over
84
Sun and mild weather
66
Being in a big city
80
4

Houston, TX

The cheapest housing of any top-10 metro, paid for in property tax and humidity.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,729

+$1,944 vs today

Local pay
$140,143
Rent (1br)
$1,199/mo
Take-home
$8,878/mo
Everything else
$1,950/mo
Money left over
82
Sun and mild weather
63
Being in a big city
76
5

Washington, DC

Recession-resistant government and consulting pay, humid summers, real transit.

Car optional

Left over monthly

$5,599

+$1,814 vs today

Local pay
$170,370
Rent (1br)
$1,929/mo
Take-home
$9,630/mo
Everything else
$2,102/mo
Money left over
79
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
86
6

Dallas, TX

No income tax, endless new construction, and a 1.5% property tax bill.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,614

+$1,829 vs today

Local pay
$140,143
Rent (1br)
$1,263/mo
Take-home
$8,878/mo
Everything else
$2,001/mo
Money left over
79
Sun and mild weather
70
Being in a big city
76
7

San Francisco, CA

Dense, walkable, cold in July, and priced for two incomes.

Car optional

Left over monthly

$5,305

+$1,520 vs today

Local pay
$184,109
Rent (1br)
$2,609/mo
Take-home
$10,328/mo
Everything else
$2,414/mo
Money left over
71
Sun and mild weather
86
Being in a big city
92
8

Lexington Park, MD

State income tax topping out at 5.75%, a median 2-bedroom estimated asking rent of $1,896 and 216 sunny days; commutes average 35 minutes.

Left over monthly

$5,927

+$2,142 vs today

Local pay
$171,469
Rent (1br)
$1,593/mo
Take-home
$9,542/mo
Everything else
$2,022/mo
Money left over
87
Sun and mild weather
71
Being in a big city
39
9

Bismarck, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,298 and 196 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$5,836

+$2,051 vs today

Local pay
$139,593
Rent (1br)
$1,090/mo
Take-home
$8,723/mo
Everything else
$1,797/mo
Money left over
85
Sun and mild weather
47
Being in a big city
35
10

Odessa, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,398 and 269 sunny days; commutes average 25 minutes.

No state income tax269 sunny days

Left over monthly

$5,577

+$1,792 vs today

Local pay
$135,884
Rent (1br)
$1,174/mo
Take-home
$8,636/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
78
Sun and mild weather
80
Being in a big city
25
11

Denver, CO

Mountains in an hour, 245 sunny days, and a flat 4.4% state tax.

Left over monthly

$5,148

+$1,363 vs today

Local pay
$145,639
Rent (1br)
$1,490/mo
Take-home
$8,711/mo
Everything else
$2,073/mo
Money left over
66
Sun and mild weather
72
Being in a big city
76
12

Manchester, NH

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $2,139 and 187 sunny days; commutes average 27 minutes.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,505

+$1,720 vs today

Local pay
$148,524
Rent (1br)
$1,797/mo
Take-home
$9,356/mo
Everything else
$2,054/mo
Money left over
76
Sun and mild weather
58
Being in a big city
49
13

Nashville, TN

No income tax and a real music and healthcare economy; traffic is the tax.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,122

+$1,337 vs today

Local pay
$133,273
Rent (1br)
$1,399/mo
Take-home
$8,487/mo
Everything else
$1,966/mo
Money left over
66
Sun and mild weather
68
Being in a big city
78
14

Minot, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,132 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$5,752

+$1,967 vs today

Local pay
$135,746
Rent (1br)
$951/mo
Take-home
$8,510/mo
Everything else
$1,807/mo
Money left over
83
Sun and mild weather
50
Being in a big city
26
15

Cheyenne, WY

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,219 and 253 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

No state income tax18-min commute

Left over monthly

$5,531

+$1,746 vs today

Local pay
$134,647
Rent (1br)
$1,024/mo
Take-home
$8,565/mo
Everything else
$2,010/mo
Money left over
77
Sun and mild weather
69
Being in a big city
30
16

Jacksonville, FL

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,531 and 245 sunny days; commutes average 26 minutes.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,112

+$1,327 vs today

Local pay
$130,250
Rent (1br)
$1,286/mo
Take-home
$8,315/mo
Everything else
$1,917/mo
Money left over
65
Sun and mild weather
81
Being in a big city
62
17

San Antonio, TX

Among the cheapest big-city rents in the country, with the highest property tax rate here.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,193

+$1,408 vs today

Local pay
$127,777
Rent (1br)
$1,052/mo
Take-home
$8,174/mo
Everything else
$1,929/mo
Money left over
68
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
64
18

Bremerton, WA

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,919 and 154 sunny days; commutes average 30 minutes.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,510

+$1,725 vs today

Local pay
$145,501
Rent (1br)
$1,612/mo
Take-home
$9,184/mo
Everything else
$2,062/mo
Money left over
76
Sun and mild weather
50
Being in a big city
47
19

Raleigh, NC

Research Triangle salaries, low taxes, and not much to do downtown.

Left over monthly

$5,145

+$1,360 vs today

Local pay
$138,769
Rent (1br)
$1,249/mo
Take-home
$8,354/mo
Everything else
$1,960/mo
Money left over
66
Sun and mild weather
70
Being in a big city
66
20

Fargo, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,049 and 193 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$5,546

+$1,761 vs today

Local pay
$130,113
Rent (1br)
$881/mo
Take-home
$8,198/mo
Everything else
$1,771/mo
Money left over
77
Sun and mild weather
44
Being in a big city
45
Show the remaining 367 metros

Showing the top 20 of 387 by best fit for you.

Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. Every figure is an estimate, not a quote. See exactly how it's calculated.