same $100k income, fresh start from Nashville
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
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Best cities for live music and arts
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Best cities with mild winters
read the guidethe verdict
pricier each month than Nashville
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.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
73% more expensive than Nashville(vs $1,790/mo)
9.3%
$775/mo more in state tax than Nashville
vs 0% in Nashville
$4,463/mo
$2,080 less than Nashville
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
103% more expensive than Nashville
vs $461k in Nashville
282k
vs 2.1M in Nashville
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Nashville only logs 173 pleasant days.
Nashville hosts 28.3× more events.
68/100
21% higher than Nashville
vs 56/100 in Nashville
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
2% higher than Nashville
vs 96/100 in Nashville
3
94% fewer than Nashville
vs 47 nonstops in Nashville
cities that play in san luis obispo's register:
