$100k salary, packing up from Knoxville

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San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

next stop after knoxville

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

$2,139

the monthly cost of moving past Knoxville

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

79% more expensive than Knoxville(vs $1,731/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$775/mo more in state tax than Knoxville

vs 0% in Knoxville

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$2,139 less than Knoxville

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

04a house here

$934k

157% more expensive than Knoxville

vs $364k in Knoxville

05metro size

282k

vs 947k in Knoxville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Knoxville only logs 189 pleasant days.

But the calendar thins out: Knoxville stays 4.2× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

1% lower than Knoxville

vs 69/100 in Knoxville

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

·walk score®

98/100

38% higher than Knoxville

vs 71/100 in Knoxville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

82% fewer than Knoxville

vs 17 nonstops in Knoxville

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