same $100k income, fresh start from Albany
changea dispatch from
san luis obispo
CA
35.28°N
120.66°W
San Luis Obispo (SLO to locals) sits halfway between LA and San Francisco on the central coast, with Cal Poly students, gorgeous wine country (Edna Valley and Paso Robles nearby), and a Thursday night farmers market that takes over downtown. It's been called the happiest city in America (multiple studies, Oprah included), and the vibe really does back that up. Bubblegum Alley is exactly what it sounds like. Mellow and beautiful.
in our guides
of 10
Most walkable cities in America
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Best cities for live music and arts
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Best small cities to live in
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Best cities with mild winters
read the guidethe verdict
pricier each month than Albany
San Luis Obispo is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
88% more expensive than Albany(vs $1,643/mo)
9.3%
$287/mo more in state tax than Albany
vs 5.85% in Albany
$4,463/mo
$1,740 less than Albany
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
159% more expensive than Albany
vs $361k in Albany
282k
vs 905k in Albany
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Albany barely cracks 147 pleasant ones.
Noticeably quieter than Albany. About 62% fewer events on a typical month.
68/100
6% lower than Albany
vs 72/100 in Albany
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
8% higher than Albany
vs 91/100 in Albany
3
84% fewer than Albany
vs 19 nonstops in Albany
neighbors of san luis obispo on the map of tradeoffs:
