$100k salary, packing up from Allentown

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San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

from allentown

San Luis Obispo

ca · metro 282k

a 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.

metro282k

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,806

more each month than Allentown ran you

A real premium for San Luis Obispo. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

71% more expensive than Allentown(vs $1,809/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$519/mo more in state tax than Allentown

vs 3.07% in Allentown

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,806 less than Allentown

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$934k

160% more expensive than Allentown

vs $359k in Allentown

05metro size

282k

vs 874k in Allentown

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Allentown only manages 157 of those.

Noticeably quieter than Allentown. About 63% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

7% lower than Allentown

vs 73/100 in Allentown

Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.

·walk score®

98/100

14% higher than Allentown

vs 86/100 in Allentown

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

67% fewer than Allentown

vs 9 nonstops in Allentown

04 · see also

neighbors of san luis obispo on the map of tradeoffs:

compare san luis obispo with: