with $100k coming in, swapping out of Fresno

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

instead of fresno

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

in our guides

#6

of 10

Most walkable cities in America

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities for live music and arts

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities to escape the heat

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for outdoor athletes

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities with year-round outdoor weather

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for cyclists

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to live in California

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for foodies

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities for dog owners

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities with mild winters

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,096

more expensive each month than Fresno

San Luis Obispo costs noticeably more than Fresno. You'd be paying for San Luis Obispo itself, not for breathing room around it.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

55% more expensive than Fresno(vs $1,999/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

vs 9.3% in Fresno

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,096 less than Fresno

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

04a house here

$934k

124% more expensive than Fresno

vs $418k in Fresno

05metro size

282k

vs 1.2M in Fresno

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Fresno only manages 206 of those.

Fresno hosts 3.8× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

3% higher than Fresno

vs 66/100 in Fresno

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

·walk score®

98/100

10% higher than Fresno

vs 89/100 in Fresno

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

73% fewer than Fresno

vs 11 nonstops in Fresno

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as san luis obispo:

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