same $100k income, fresh start from Boston
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
more expensive each month than Boston
You'd pay for San Luis Obispo. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
2% cheaper than Boston(vs $3,145/mo)
9.3%
$358/mo more in state tax than Boston
vs 5% in Boston
$4,463/mo
$309 less than Boston
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
21% more expensive than Boston
vs $771k in Boston
282k
vs 4.9M in Boston
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Boston keeps to 160 pleasant days a year.
Noticeably quieter than Boston. About 94% fewer events on a typical month.
68/100
4% lower than Boston
vs 71/100 in Boston
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
0% lower than Boston
vs 98/100 in Boston
3
97% fewer than Boston
vs 103 nonstops in Boston
same energy as san luis obispo, different zip code:
