same $100k income, fresh start from Madison
changea 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.
in our guides
of 10
Most walkable cities in America
read the guideof 10
Best cities for live music and arts
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Best small cities to live in
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Best cities with mild winters
read the guidethe verdict
more expensive each month than Madison
A real premium for San Luis Obispo. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
85% more expensive than Madison(vs $1,673/mo)
9.3%
$252/mo more in state tax than Madison
vs 6.27% in Madison
$4,463/mo
$1,675 less than Madison
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
101% more expensive than Madison
vs $465k in Madison
282k
vs 694k in Madison
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Madison keeps to 147 pleasant days a year.
Noticeably quieter than Madison. About 75% fewer events on a typical month.
68/100
1% higher than Madison
vs 67/100 in Madison
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
11% higher than Madison
vs 88/100 in Madison
3
73% fewer than Madison
vs 11 nonstops in Madison
neighbors of san luis obispo on the map of tradeoffs:
