Plenty of articles discuss the differences between New York City and Dubai. Or compare the standard of living in Los Angles to Bangkok. Which is why I’m not doing that. Instead, this article compares winter weather in six obscure cities.
Three smaller cities in the United States. And three smaller cities around the world.
We’re not talking about anything else like nightlife, cost of living, or the dating scene.
This is just about winter weather.
1. Duluth, Minnesota (Average Rent Price: $1,100)
Duluth, Minnesota is a U.S. city with a population of almost 90.000.
Historically a port town, Duluth is also known for its excellent fishing spots. And, its maritime museum.
In January, the average temperature high is 20 °F. And the average low is 4 °F.
Pretty chilly! And things really don’t warm-up again until June, when the average high reaches 66 °F!
2. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico (Average Rent Price: $344)
Zihuatanejo is a resort city on Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
The town is known for it’s beautiful beaches, delicious seafood, and breathtaking views.
Like Duluth, Zihuatanejo is a port city.
Unlike Duluth, the waters surrounding Zihuatanejo are considered to be some of the best fishing locations in the world. And, the winter weather never dips anywhere near the freezing point.
In fact, Zihuatanejo’s January high averages 86 °F. And the low averages 68 °F.
3. Rapid City, South Dakota (Average Rent Price: $753)
Rapid City, South Dakota is a city of about 80,000 people.
The town is most famous for being near the Mt. Rushmore monument. And, Rapid City is “the second most populous city in South Dakota.”
The area is best known for offering a variety of outdoor activities, like hiking and mountain climbing.
However, it’s unlikely you enjoy any of these during the winter.
Rapid City, South Dakota has an average January high of 37°F. And a low of 17°F.
4. Vung Tau, Vietnam (Average Rent Price: $251)
Southern Vietnam’s biggest weekend getaway resort town.
Vung Tau is about an hour south of Ho Chi Minh City, and offers plenty of fun activities.
There are numerous beaches to be enjoyed. There are mountain paths you can hike. And, there’s even a local dog track and gambling scene.
One of the many nice things about this city is its weather.
Vung Tau’s average January high is 83.48 °F. And the low is 75.74 °F.
Winter weather in Vung Tau means shorts and a t-shirt.
5. Springfield, Illinois (Average Rent Price: $862)
Springfield, Illinois, former home to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.
It’s also the state capitol (though significantly smaller than Chicago or even nearby St. Louis). And is home to a large, recreational lake.
Despite being pretty far south, Springfield still experiences cold winter weather.
The January high averages 34 °F. And the low averages 18 °F.
6. Khon Kaen, Thailand (Average Rent Price: $218)
A fairly obscure Thai city to the country’s north, Khon Kaen is a place I really like.
This isn’t a super exciting city, like Bangkok. But it is relaxing and offering some interesting outdoor activities like Phu Kradueng National Park.
It’s also more “off-grid” or authentic, with very few Westerners.
Winter weather is no problem here, either. As January highs average 87 °F. And lows average 63 °F.
Remember: Suffering Through Winter Weather Is A Choice
This article was only about cold weather.
And at no point did it ever mention the thousands of dollars you could save living in Thailand or Mexico instead of a crappy U.S. city. Or how much more of the year you’d be able to enjoy thanks to the nice climate. Or how social and friendly warm weather locals are.
Or any of the thousand other benefits moving abroad has to offer.
Things like improved mental and physical health (from more time outdoors). Or a low-stress lifestyle.
Nope. This was merely an article commenting on the weather.
But if you’d like to escape someplace warm, why not check out Agoda.com?
They offer fantastic deals on hotels and long-term rentals.
Perfect for your next winter getaway.