$100k a year, no longer in Baton Rouge

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

instead of baton rouge

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

$2,259

the monthly cost of moving past Baton Rouge

San Luis Obispo is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

127% more expensive than Baton Rouge(vs $1,361/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$525/mo more in state tax than Baton Rouge

vs 3% in Baton Rouge

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$2,259 less than Baton Rouge

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

04a house here

$934k

274% more expensive than Baton Rouge

vs $250k in Baton Rouge

05metro size

282k

vs 874k in Baton Rouge

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Baton Rouge barely cracks 187 pleasant ones.

Noticeably quieter than Baton Rouge. About 33% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

36% higher than Baton Rouge

vs 50/100 in Baton Rouge

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

·walk score®

98/100

31% higher than Baton Rouge

vs 75/100 in Baton Rouge

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

25% fewer than Baton Rouge

vs 4 nonstops in Baton Rouge

04 · see also

same energy as san luis obispo, different zip code:

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