same $100k income, fresh start from Detroit
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 cities with mild winters
read the guidethe verdict
more each month than Detroit ran you
A real premium for San Luis Obispo. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
110% more expensive than Detroit(vs $1,472/mo)
9.3%
$421/mo more in state tax than Detroit
vs 4.25% in Detroit
$4,463/mo
$2,044 less than Detroit
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
256% more expensive than Detroit
vs $262k in Detroit
282k
vs 4.3M in Detroit
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Detroit keeps to 160 pleasant days a year.
Noticeably quieter than Detroit. About 89% fewer events on a typical month.
68/100
45% higher than Detroit
vs 47/100 in Detroit
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
1% lower than Detroit
vs 99/100 in Detroit
3
98% fewer than Detroit
vs 135 nonstops in Detroit
cities that play in san luis obispo's register:
