with $100k coming in, swapping out of Houston

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

next stop after houston

San Luis Obispo

ca · metro 282k

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

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$2,260

the monthly premium over Houston

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

92% more expensive than Houston(vs $1,610/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$775/mo more in state tax than Houston

vs 0% in Houston

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$2,260 less than Houston

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

04a house here

$934k

200% more expensive than Houston

vs $311k in Houston

05metro size

282k

vs 7.5M in Houston

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Houston barely cracks 171 pleasant ones.

Houston hosts 21.2× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

24% higher than Houston

vs 55/100 in Houston

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

·walk score®

98/100

27% higher than Houston

vs 77/100 in Houston

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

98% fewer than Houston

vs 176 nonstops in Houston

04 · see also

cities that play in san luis obispo's register:

compare san luis obispo with: