$100k a year, no longer in Miami
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
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Most walkable cities in America
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read the guidethe verdict
more each month than Miami ran you
A real premium for San Luis Obispo. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
16% more expensive than Miami(vs $2,665/mo)
9.3%
$775/mo more in state tax than Miami
vs 0% in Miami
$4,463/mo
$1,205 less than Miami
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
66% more expensive than Miami
vs $565k in Miami
282k
vs 6.2M in Miami
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Miami only manages 272 of those.
But the calendar thins out: Miami stays 98.6× busier.
68/100
12% lower than Miami
vs 77/100 in Miami
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
1% higher than Miami
vs 97/100 in Miami
3
98% fewer than Miami
vs 167 nonstops in Miami
same energy as san luis obispo, different zip code:
