on $100k a year, leaving Myrtle Beach

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

next stop after myrtle beach

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

$1,602

pricier each month than Myrtle Beach

A real premium for San Luis Obispo. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

79% more expensive than Myrtle Beach(vs $1,727/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$233/mo more in state tax than Myrtle Beach

vs 6.5% in Myrtle Beach

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,602 less than Myrtle Beach

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

04a house here

$934k

159% more expensive than Myrtle Beach

vs $361k in Myrtle Beach

05metro size

282k

vs 397k in Myrtle Beach

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Myrtle Beach keeps to 249 pleasant days a year.

But the calendar thins out: Myrtle Beach stays 2.3× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

17% higher than Myrtle Beach

vs 58/100 in Myrtle Beach

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

·walk score®

98/100

78% higher than Myrtle Beach

vs 55/100 in Myrtle Beach

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

87% fewer than Myrtle Beach

vs 23 nonstops in Myrtle Beach

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as san luis obispo:

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