on $100k a year, leaving Lubbock

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

if you left lubbock

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

$2,486

more each month than Lubbock ran you

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

124% more expensive than Lubbock(vs $1,384/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$775/mo more in state tax than Lubbock

vs 0% in Lubbock

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$2,486 less than Lubbock

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

04a house here

$934k

343% more expensive than Lubbock

vs $211k in Lubbock

05metro size

282k

vs 360k in Lubbock

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Lubbock barely cracks 186 pleasant ones.

A similar weekend lineup to Lubbock.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

1260% higher than Lubbock

vs 5/100 in Lubbock

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

·walk score®

98/100

42% higher than Lubbock

vs 69/100 in Lubbock

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

57% fewer than Lubbock

vs 7 nonstops in Lubbock

04 · see also

if san luis obispo appeals, also worth a look:

compare san luis obispo with: