same $100k income, fresh start from Fort Collins

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San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

next stop after fort collins

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

$1,533

pricier each month than Fort Collins

San Luis Obispo is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

57% more expensive than Fort Collins(vs $1,971/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$408/mo more in state tax than Fort Collins

vs 4.4% in Fort Collins

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,533 less than Fort Collins

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

04a house here

$934k

63% more expensive than Fort Collins

vs $572k in Fort Collins

05metro size

282k

vs 371k in Fort Collins

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Fort Collins barely cracks 177 pleasant ones.

900% more happening than in Fort Collins.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

1% lower than Fort Collins

vs 69/100 in Fort Collins

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

·walk score®

98/100

14% higher than Fort Collins

vs 86/100 in Fort Collins

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

98% fewer than Fort Collins

vs 169 nonstops in Fort Collins

04 · see also

cities that play in san luis obispo's register:

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