same $100k income, fresh start from Cincinnati

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San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

instead of cincinnati

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

$1,989

pricier each month than Cincinnati

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

100% more expensive than Cincinnati(vs $1,549/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$443/mo more in state tax than Cincinnati

vs 3.99% in Cincinnati

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,989 less than Cincinnati

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

04a house here

$934k

196% more expensive than Cincinnati

vs $316k in Cincinnati

05metro size

282k

vs 2.3M in Cincinnati

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Cincinnati keeps to 162 pleasant days a year.

But the calendar thins out: Cincinnati stays 8.7× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

6% lower than Cincinnati

vs 72/100 in Cincinnati

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

·walk score®

98/100

2% higher than Cincinnati

vs 96/100 in Cincinnati

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

94% fewer than Cincinnati

vs 47 nonstops in Cincinnati

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as san luis obispo:

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