Miami vs Seattle
On balanced weights, Miami comes out ahead: 58 against 55 out of 100, mostly on sunshine and winter daylight. Your own weights, salary and household can change the answer; every figure below names its source.
Make it yours: compare Miami and Seattle with your own numbers
The verdict on default settings
The lines that move the score most: research output (Seattle, +3.8 points); sunshine (Miami, +3.4 points); winter daylight (Miami, +3.4 points).
Balanced weights are the app's starting point, not a judgement: weights are set by you. Where a city lacks a figure, it gets the average score of the two on that line, so missing data neither helps nor hurts.
Line by line
| Line | Miami | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Money left each monthAfter tax, rent and everyday spending, what do you keep? | at most €617 a month; money here is partial: it leaves out health insurance premium bought outside pay (add yours, a month)American Community Survey 1-year estimates; World Development Indicators | at most €464 a month; money here is partial: it leaves out health insurance premium bought outside pay (add yours, a month)American Community Survey 1-year estimates; World Development Indicators |
| Cost of livingWhat does a month cost you there, rent included? | money here is partial: it leaves out health insurance premium bought outside pay (add yours, a month)American Community Survey 1-year estimates; World Development Indicators | money here is partial: it leaves out health insurance premium bought outside pay (add yours, a month)American Community Survey 1-year estimates; World Development Indicators |
| Nice daysHow many days a year are dry, mostly clear and feel the way you like? | 82 nice days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) | 57 nice days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) |
| Winter daylightHow long is the shortest day of the year? | 10 h 32 min | 8 h 25 min |
| SunshineHow many hours of sunshine in a year? | 3,049 h a yearMeteostat climate normals | 2,268 h a yearMeteostat climate normals |
| Dry daysHow many days a year does it rain? | 193 wet days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) | 142 wet days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) |
| Clean airHow much fine dust (PM2.5) is in the air over a year? | 6.2 µg/m³WHO Ambient Air Quality Database v8.0 (2026) | 6.1 µg/m³WHO Ambient Air Quality Database v8.0 (2026) |
| SafetyHow rare is violent death (homicides per 100,000 people a year)? | 5.8 homicides per 100kWorld Development Indicators (country) | 5.8 homicides per 100kWorld Development Indicators (country) |
| Long, healthy livesHow long do people live there? | 78.9 yearsWorld Development Indicators (country) | 78.9 yearsWorld Development Indicators (country) |
| Health costsWhat does your household pay for health care itself each month? | €110 a monthWorld Development Indicators (country) | €110 a monthWorld Development Indicators (country) |
| Childcare costsWhat does full-time childcare cost you each month, after public support? | no child of childcare age | no child of childcare age |
| Paid leave for parentsHow many weeks of fully paid leave do a mother and a father get between them? | 0 weeks (mother 0, father 0)OECD Family Database: parental leave systems (PF2.1) (country) | 0 weeks (mother 0, father 0)OECD Family Database: parental leave systems (PF2.1) (country) |
| HappinessHow do people there rate their own lives, 0 to 10? | no data | no data |
| Research outputHow much research and invention happens around you, per resident? | 50 of 100OpenAlex institutions | 66 of 100OpenAlex institutions |
| Time difference from homeHow many hours apart are the clocks there and at home? | set your home city | set your home city |
| Flight homeHow long is a nonstop flight home? | set your home city | set your home city |
| Airport nearbyHow far is the nearest major airport? | 10 kmOurAirports airports | 18 kmOurAirports airports |
| Public transportWhat share of commuters take the bus, tram, metro or train? | 8 % of commutersAmerican Community Survey 1-year estimates | 23 % of commutersAmerican Community Survey 1-year estimates |
| Rail and metro stationsHow many train and metro stations are within 10 km of the centre? | 46 stationsOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API | 11 stationsOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API |
| Short commutesHow long does the average journey to work take? | 29 minutesAmerican Community Survey 1-year estimates | 28 minutesAmerican Community Survey 1-year estimates |
| Cycle networkHow many km of cycle paths and separated cycle tracks are there per km² of land around the centre? | 0.39 km per km²OpenStreetMap via the Overpass API: walking and cycling | 0.84 km per km²OpenStreetMap via the Overpass API: walking and cycling |
| Everyday needs on footFrom what share of streets are a food shop, a pharmacy, a school, a park and a stop all within about 15 minutes' walk? | 57 % of streetsOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API: walking and cycling | 80 % of streetsOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API: walking and cycling |
| Walking and cycling to workWhat share of commuters walk or cycle to work? | 9.0 % of commutersAmerican Community Survey 1-year estimates | 14.6 % of commutersAmerican Community Survey 1-year estimates |
| Quick way out by bikeHow far does a cyclist ride from the centre before the dense city ends? | 20.1 km, about 80 min by bikeGHS Urban Centre Database 2025 (R2024A), general characteristics | 18.5 km, about 74 min by bikeGHS Urban Centre Database 2025 (R2024A), general characteristics |
| Near the seaHow far is the sea? | 0 kmNatural Earth (coastline, land, countries and populated places) | 1 kmNatural Earth (coastline, land, countries and populated places) |
| Near the mountainsHow far are the mountains (ground 1,000 m above the city)? | 300 kmTerrain Tiles (Terrarium) on AWS Open Data | 46 kmTerrain Tiles (Terrarium) on AWS Open Data |
| Green spaceHow much of the land around the centre is park, wood or other green space? | 3.2 % of landOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API | 9.3 % of landOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API |
| Fast internetHow fast are typical internet connections? | 67 Mbit/sM-Lab NDT statistics (daily city aggregates) | 53 Mbit/sM-Lab NDT statistics (daily city aggregates) |
| English spokenWhat share of people speak English? | 96 % speak EnglishCLDR territory information (country) | 96 % speak EnglishCLDR territory information (country) |
| International crowdWhat share of residents were born abroad? | 61.0 % born abroadAmerican Community Survey 1-year estimates | 20.5 % born abroadAmerican Community Survey 1-year estimates |
| DoctorsHow many doctors are there per 1,000 people? | 3.7 per 1,000World Development Indicators (country) | 3.7 per 1,000World Development Indicators (country) |
| JobsWhat share of people who want work cannot find it? | 4.2 % unemployedWorld Development Indicators (country) | 4.2 % unemployedWorld Development Indicators (country) |
| Graduates aroundWhat share of adults hold a degree or another qualification above school level? | 55.8 % of adultsAmerican Community Survey 1-year estimates | 79.5 % of adultsAmerican Community Survey 1-year estimates |
| Developers aroundHow many people per 1,000 residents name the city as their location on GitHub? | 31.2 per 1,000GitHub user search | 86.8 per 1,000GitHub user search |
| Clean governmentHow well is corruption kept out of public life? | 0.87 of 2.5Worldwide Governance Indicators (country) | 0.87 of 2.5Worldwide Governance Indicators (country) |
| Politics, left to rightHow close is the way the place votes to where you stand, from left to right? | no data | no data |
| Abortion lawHow close is the law on ending a pregnancy to the one you want? | on request, first weeks only; say where you standAbortion in law, from the statutes cited | on request, 10 weeks or later; say where you standAbortion in law, from the statutes cited |
| Same-sex couples in lawHow close is the law on same-sex couples to the one you want? | marriage; say where you standSame-sex couples in law, from the statutes cited (country) | marriage; say where you standSame-sex couples in law, from the statutes cited (country) |
| Founders Running ClubIs there a Founders Running Club chapter? | a chapterFounders Running Club communities | no chapterFounders Running Club communities |
| Coworking spacesHow many coworking spaces are within 10 km of the centre? | 6 spacesOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API | 21 spacesOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API |
| Climbing gymsHow many climbing gyms are within 10 km of the centre? | 0 gymsOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API | 11 gymsOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API |
| Swimming poolsHow many public pools are within 10 km of the centre? | 8 poolsOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API | 26 poolsOpenStreetMap via the Overpass API |
| Beach daysHow many days a year are hot, sunny and dry enough for the beach or a pool? | 54 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) | 12 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) |
| Run or ride daysOn how many days is there a dry, calm, cool-to-mild window for a run or a ride? | 86 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) | 278 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) |
| Few muggy daysHow many days a year is the air sticky with humidity? | 272 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) | 0 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) |
| Few grey daysHow many days a year is the sky overcast through the day? | 93 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) | 163 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) |
| Cool nights for sleepingHow many nights a year stay above 20 °C? | 283 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) | 0 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) |
| Few heat-stress daysHow many days a year feel 32 °C or hotter? | 165 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) | 3 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) |
| Few snow daysHow many days a year bring fresh snow? | 0 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) | 9 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) |
| Few windy daysHow many days a year are windy through the day? | 5 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) | 4 days a yearHistorical weather (ERA5 reanalysis) |
Who may move where depends on your passports: see each city's page, or add your household in the app.
Money on €60,000 a year
| A month | Miami | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home pay | €4,175 | €4,175 |
| Rent and everyday spending | €3,559 | €3,711 |
| Left each month | €617 | €464 |
Assumed: one person, €60,000 gross a year, renting a one-bedroom home, and everyday spending of €1,200 a month in Lisbon scaled by each country's price level. These are the app's defaults; change any of them there.
Climate month by month
| Month | Miami | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17 to 24 °C | 3 to 8 °C |
| Feb | 19 to 25 °C | 2 to 8 °C |
| Mar | 20 to 27 °C | 4 to 11 °C |
| Apr | 21 to 28 °C | 6 to 13 °C |
| May | 23 to 30 °C | 9 to 17 °C |
| Jun | 24 to 30 °C | 12 to 21 °C |
| Jul | 26 to 31 °C | 15 to 25 °C |
| Aug | 26 to 32 °C | 15 to 25 °C |
| Sep | 25 to 30 °C | 13 to 21 °C |
| Oct | 23 to 29 °C | 9 to 15 °C |
| Nov | 21 to 27 °C | 6 to 10 °C |
| Dec | 19 to 25 °C | 4 to 8 °C |
Air temperature in the shade, average daily low to high (Historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis), 2021-2025).
Questions this page answers
Is it cheaper to live in Miami or Seattle?
For one person renting a one-bedroom home, Miami is cheaper: about €3,559 a month against €3,711, rent and everyday spending included. Rent comes from official rent statistics and everyday spending is scaled by each country's World Bank price level.
How much do you take home on €60,000 a year in Miami and in Seattle?
About US$56,055 a year in Miami (United States 2026 tax rules) and US$56,055 in Seattle (United States 2026 tax rules), after income tax and employee social contributions.
Which is warmer, Miami or Seattle?
Miami is warmer: average daily highs of the air over the year are 28.1 °C against 15.3 °C in Seattle (Historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis), Open-Meteo, 2021-2025).
Which has cleaner air, Miami or Seattle?
Seattle has cleaner air: an annual PM2.5 mean of 6.1 µg/m³ against 6.2 µg/m³ (WHO Ambient Air Quality Database; WHO guideline 5 µg/m³; 2022 and 2022).
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Cite this page
Borgo, “Miami vs Seattle”, https://borgo.abcastor.com/compare/miami-us-vs-seattle-us/, figures as of 2026-11-05, reference profile. Name the original source of any figure you quote.