with $100k coming in, swapping out of Charlotte

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

next stop after charlotte

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

$1,767

the monthly premium over Charlotte

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

79% more expensive than Charlotte(vs $1,728/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$400/mo more in state tax than Charlotte

vs 4.5% in Charlotte

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,767 less than Charlotte

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

04a house here

$934k

139% more expensive than Charlotte

vs $391k in Charlotte

05metro size

282k

vs 2.8M in Charlotte

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Charlotte keeps to 200 pleasant days a year.

Charlotte hosts 11.3× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

33% higher than Charlotte

vs 51/100 in Charlotte

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

·walk score®

98/100

4% higher than Charlotte

vs 94/100 in Charlotte

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

98% fewer than Charlotte

vs 141 nonstops in Charlotte

04 · see also

neighbors of san luis obispo on the map of tradeoffs:

compare san luis obispo with: