$100k a year, no longer in San Luis Obispo
changea dispatch from
provo
UT
40.23°N
111.66°W
Provo is BYU and the Mormon culture's center of gravity, with a downtown that's quieter than most college towns (no Saturday football beer crowds here). The Wasatch Mountains rise right behind it, with Sundance ski resort 30 minutes up the canyon. Provo Canyon and Bridal Veil Falls are summer go-tos. The tech scene (Qualtrics, Domo) has reshaped the local economy. Beautiful in a calm, ordered way.
in our guides
the verdict
under San Luis Obispo, every month
Provo runs on a fraction of San Luis Obispo's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
a quick ledger.
$1,743/mo
44% cheaper than San Luis Obispo(vs $3,095/mo)
4.65%
$387/mo less in state tax than San Luis Obispo
vs 9.3% in San Luis Obispo
$6,203/mo
$1,740 more than San Luis Obispo
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$559k
40% cheaper than San Luis Obispo
vs $934k in San Luis Obispo
733k
vs 282k in San Luis Obispo
field notes, weather & such.
171
pleasant days a year, in provo.
San Luis Obispo has the edge here, logging 303 pleasant days a year. The trade is winter: 44 days below 20°, vs 0 in San Luis Obispo.
But the calendar thins out: San Luis Obispo stays 10.0× busier.
81/100
19% higher than San Luis Obispo
vs 68/100 in San Luis Obispo
Closest outdoor draw: Wasatch Mountain State Park, 20.4 mi.
89/100
9% lower than San Luis Obispo
vs 98/100 in San Luis Obispo
91
2933% more than San Luis Obispo
vs 3 nonstops in San Luis Obispo
compare provo with:
