$100k salary, packing up from Columbia
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
read the guideof 10
Best cities for live music and arts
read the guideof 10
Best small cities to live in
read the guideof 10
Best cities to escape the heat
read the guideof 10
Best cities for outdoor athletes
read the guideof 10
Best cities with year-round outdoor weather
read the guideof 10
Best cities for cyclists
read the guideof 10
Best cities to live in California
read the guideof 10
Best cities for foodies
read the guideof 10
Best cities for dog owners
read the guideof 10
Best cities with mild winters
read the guidethe verdict
the monthly premium over Columbia
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.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
100% more expensive than Columbia(vs $1,551/mo)
9.3%
$233/mo more in state tax than Columbia
vs 6.5% in Columbia
$4,463/mo
$1,778 less than Columbia
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
266% more expensive than Columbia
vs $255k in Columbia
282k
vs 857k in Columbia
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Columbia barely cracks 189 pleasant ones.
But the calendar thins out: Columbia stays 1.9× busier.
68/100
24% higher than Columbia
vs 55/100 in Columbia
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
15% higher than Columbia
vs 85/100 in Columbia
3
70% fewer than Columbia
vs 10 nonstops in Columbia
neighbors of san luis obispo on the map of tradeoffs:
