$100k salary, packing up from Indianapolis

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San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

if you left indianapolis

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

$2,109

the monthly premium over Indianapolis

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

105% more expensive than Indianapolis(vs $1,511/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$525/mo more in state tax than Indianapolis

vs 3% in Indianapolis

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$2,109 less than Indianapolis

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

04a house here

$934k

216% more expensive than Indianapolis

vs $296k in Indianapolis

05metro size

282k

vs 2.1M in Indianapolis

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Indianapolis only logs 174 pleasant days.

Noticeably quieter than Indianapolis. About 89% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

10% higher than Indianapolis

vs 62/100 in Indianapolis

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

·walk score®

98/100

1% lower than Indianapolis

vs 99/100 in Indianapolis

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

91% fewer than Indianapolis

vs 35 nonstops in Indianapolis

04 · see also

same energy as san luis obispo, different zip code:

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