same $100k income, fresh start from Durham
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 small cities to live in
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Best cities to escape the heat
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Best cities for outdoor athletes
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Best cities with year-round outdoor weather
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Best cities for cyclists
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Best cities to live in California
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Best cities for foodies
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Best cities for dog owners
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Best cities with mild winters
read the guidethe verdict
more expensive each month than Durham
San Luis Obispo is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
84% more expensive than Durham(vs $1,684/mo)
9.3%
$400/mo more in state tax than Durham
vs 4.5% in Durham
$4,463/mo
$1,811 less than Durham
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
125% more expensive than Durham
vs $415k in Durham
282k
vs 609k in Durham
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Durham barely cracks 178 pleasant ones.
But the calendar thins out: Durham stays 3.5× busier.
68/100
36% higher than Durham
vs 50/100 in Durham
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
23% higher than Durham
vs 80/100 in Durham
3
92% fewer than Durham
vs 39 nonstops in Durham
same energy as san luis obispo, different zip code:
