with $100k coming in, swapping out of Grand Rapids

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

if you left grand rapids

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

$1,896

more expensive each month than Grand Rapids

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.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

91% more expensive than Grand Rapids(vs $1,620/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$421/mo more in state tax than Grand Rapids

vs 4.25% in Grand Rapids

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,896 less than Grand Rapids

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

04a house here

$934k

165% more expensive than Grand Rapids

vs $353k in Grand Rapids

05metro size

282k

vs 1.2M in Grand Rapids

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Grand Rapids barely cracks 151 pleasant ones.

Lighter on events: Grand Rapids packs 6.9× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

21% higher than Grand Rapids

vs 56/100 in Grand Rapids

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

·walk score®

98/100

1% higher than Grand Rapids

vs 97/100 in Grand Rapids

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

85% fewer than Grand Rapids

vs 20 nonstops in Grand Rapids

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