with $100k coming in, swapping out of Baltimore

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

if you left baltimore

San Luis Obispo

ca · metro 282k

photo: Juan Montes / pexels

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

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,319

more expensive each month than Baltimore

San Luis Obispo doesn't pretend to be affordable. Move here for what San Luis Obispo is, not for what it leaves on your monthly ledger.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

66% more expensive than Baltimore(vs $1,868/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$92/mo more in state tax than Baltimore

vs 8.2% in Baltimore

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,319 less than Baltimore

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

04a house here

$934k

127% more expensive than Baltimore

vs $412k in Baltimore

05metro size

282k

vs 2.8M in Baltimore

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Baltimore only logs 168 pleasant days.

Noticeably quieter than Baltimore. About 85% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

3% higher than Baltimore

vs 66/100 in Baltimore

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

·walk score®

98/100

0% lower than Baltimore

vs 98/100 in Baltimore

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

96% fewer than Baltimore

vs 72 nonstops in Baltimore

04 · see also

cities that play in san luis obispo's register:

see also

oxnard

$100/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

honolulu

$111/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

naples

$1,151/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare san luis obispo with:

OxnardHonoluluNaples