with $100k coming in, swapping out of Denver
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 Denver
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
66% more expensive than Denver(vs $1,863/mo)
9.3%
$408/mo more in state tax than Denver
vs 4.4% in Denver
$4,463/mo
$1,641 less than Denver
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
56% more expensive than Denver
vs $599k in Denver
282k
vs 3.0M in Denver
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Denver barely cracks 174 pleasant ones.
Denver hosts 45.4× more events.
68/100
20% lower than Denver
vs 85/100 in Denver
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
1% higher than Denver
vs 97/100 in Denver
3
98% fewer than Denver
vs 169 nonstops in Denver
same energy as san luis obispo, different zip code:
