85 metros leave you better off than Salt Lake City

Mechanical engineer earning $101,500 in Salt Lake City, UT. One adult, renting a 1-bedroom. You keep $3,040 a month today.

Your best overall match

Seattle, WA

+$972/mo (+$11,664 a year) versus Salt Lake City

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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.

SeattleMidlandAustinLexington ParkBismarckFargoCedar RapidsCheyenneAppletonSan Francisco
Best fitMiddle thirdWeakest fitWhere you live now · $3,040/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

$4,012

+$972 vs today

Local pay
$123,030
Rent (1br)
$1,761/mo
Take-home
$7,904/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

$4,026

+$986 vs today

Local pay
$110,625
Rent (1br)
$1,273/mo
Take-home
$7,184/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
100
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

$3,708

+$668 vs today

Local pay
$106,626
Rent (1br)
$1,226/mo
Take-home
$6,950/mo
Everything else
$2,016/mo
Money left over
89
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

$3,681

+$641 vs today

Local pay
$104,576
Rent (1br)
$1,199/mo
Take-home
$6,830/mo
Everything else
$1,950/mo
Money left over
88
Sun and mild weather
63
Being in a big city
76
5

Dallas, TX

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

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$3,566

+$526 vs today

Local pay
$104,576
Rent (1br)
$1,263/mo
Take-home
$6,830/mo
Everything else
$2,001/mo
Money left over
84
Sun and mild weather
70
Being in a big city
76
6

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

$3,752

+$712 vs today

Local pay
$127,952
Rent (1br)
$1,593/mo
Take-home
$7,367/mo
Everything else
$2,022/mo
Money left over
91
Sun and mild weather
71
Being in a big city
39
7

Washington, DC

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

Car optional

Left over monthly

$3,442

+$402 vs today

Local pay
$127,131
Rent (1br)
$1,929/mo
Take-home
$7,473/mo
Everything else
$2,102/mo
Money left over
80
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
86
8

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

$3,852

+$812 vs today

Local pay
$104,166
Rent (1br)
$1,090/mo
Take-home
$6,739/mo
Everything else
$1,797/mo
Money left over
94
Sun and mild weather
47
Being in a big city
35
9

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

$3,817

+$777 vs today

Local pay
$101,295
Rent (1br)
$951/mo
Take-home
$6,575/mo
Everything else
$1,807/mo
Money left over
93
Sun and mild weather
50
Being in a big city
26
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

$3,584

+$544 vs today

Local pay
$101,397
Rent (1br)
$1,174/mo
Take-home
$6,643/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
85
Sun and mild weather
80
Being in a big city
25
11

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

$3,684

+$644 vs today

Local pay
$97,091
Rent (1br)
$881/mo
Take-home
$6,336/mo
Everything else
$1,771/mo
Money left over
88
Sun and mild weather
44
Being in a big city
45
12

Cedar Rapids, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,102 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,602

+$562 vs today

Local pay
$99,655
Rent (1br)
$926/mo
Take-home
$6,272/mo
Everything else
$1,744/mo
Money left over
85
Sun and mild weather
56
Being in a big city
41
13

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

$3,555

+$515 vs today

Local pay
$100,475
Rent (1br)
$1,024/mo
Take-home
$6,589/mo
Everything else
$2,010/mo
Money left over
84
Sun and mild weather
69
Being in a big city
30
14

Appleton, WI

State income tax topping out at 7.65%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,099 and 195 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,588

+$548 vs today

Local pay
$104,063
Rent (1br)
$923/mo
Take-home
$6,431/mo
Everything else
$1,920/mo
Money left over
85
Sun and mild weather
55
Being in a big city
38
15

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

$3,308

+$268 vs today

Local pay
$95,348
Rent (1br)
$1,052/mo
Take-home
$6,289/mo
Everything else
$1,929/mo
Money left over
75
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
64
16

San Francisco, CA

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

Car optional

Left over monthly

$2,965

−$75 vs today

Local pay
$137,384
Rent (1br)
$2,609/mo
Take-home
$7,988/mo
Everything else
$2,414/mo
Money left over
63
Sun and mild weather
86
Being in a big city
92
17

Amarillo, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,017 and 260 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

No state income tax260 sunny days20-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,371

+$331 vs today

Local pay
$92,273
Rent (1br)
$854/mo
Take-home
$6,108/mo
Everything else
$1,883/mo
Money left over
77
Sun and mild weather
84
Being in a big city
37
18

Davenport, IA

A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $886 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.

21-min commute

Left over monthly

$3,511

+$471 vs today

Local pay
$95,861
Rent (1br)
$744/mo
Take-home
$6,061/mo
Everything else
$1,806/mo
Money left over
82
Sun and mild weather
59
Being in a big city
42
19

Denver, CO

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

Left over monthly

$3,162

+$122 vs today

Local pay
$108,677
Rent (1br)
$1,490/mo
Take-home
$6,725/mo
Everything else
$2,073/mo
Money left over
70
Sun and mild weather
72
Being in a big city
76
20

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

$3,194

+$154 vs today

Local pay
$97,194
Rent (1br)
$1,286/mo
Take-home
$6,397/mo
Everything else
$1,917/mo
Money left over
71
Sun and mild weather
81
Being in a big city
62
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.