$100k a year, no longer in Montgomery

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San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

instead of montgomery

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

in our guides

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#2

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#7

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#8

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#5

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#4

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#10

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Best cities with mild winters

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$2,078

the monthly cost of moving past Montgomery

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

125% more expensive than Montgomery(vs $1,376/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$358/mo more in state tax than Montgomery

vs 5% in Montgomery

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$2,078 less than Montgomery

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

04a house here

$934k

341% more expensive than Montgomery

vs $212k in Montgomery

05metro size

282k

vs 385k in Montgomery

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Montgomery only logs 181 pleasant days.

69% fewer events than Montgomery. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

55% higher than Montgomery

vs 44/100 in Montgomery

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

·walk score®

98/100

61% higher than Montgomery

vs 61/100 in Montgomery

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

0% fewer than Montgomery

vs 3 nonstops in Montgomery

04 · see also

cities that play in san luis obispo's register:

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