$100k a year, no longer in Honolulu

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

instead of honolulu

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

$111

the monthly cost of moving past Honolulu

A small premium for San Luis Obispo. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

9% more expensive than Honolulu(vs $2,843/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$142/mo less in state tax than Honolulu

vs 11% in Honolulu

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$111 less than Honolulu

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

04a house here

$934k

12% cheaper than Honolulu

vs $1061k in Honolulu

05metro size

282k

vs 989k in Honolulu

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Honolulu has the edge here, logging 316 pleasant days a year.

Honolulu hosts 9.5× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

24% higher than Honolulu

vs 55/100 in Honolulu

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

·walk score®

98/100

1% lower than Honolulu

vs 99/100 in Honolulu

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

94% fewer than Honolulu

vs 51 nonstops in Honolulu

04 · see also

cities that play in san luis obispo's register:

see also

oxnard

$100/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

naples

$1,151/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

san diego

$205/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare san luis obispo with:

OxnardNaplesSan Diego