$100k salary, packing up from Philadelphia

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San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

from philadelphia

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

$1,433

the monthly cost of moving past Philadelphia

San Luis Obispo is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

66% more expensive than Philadelphia(vs $1,869/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$207/mo more in state tax than Philadelphia

vs 6.82% in Philadelphia

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,433 less than Philadelphia

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

04a house here

$934k

138% more expensive than Philadelphia

vs $393k in Philadelphia

05metro size

282k

vs 6.2M in Philadelphia

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Philadelphia only logs 173 pleasant days.

Noticeably quieter than Philadelphia. About 95% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

1% lower than Philadelphia

vs 69/100 in Philadelphia

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

·walk score®

98/100

2% lower than Philadelphia

vs 100/100 in Philadelphia

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

98% fewer than Philadelphia

vs 122 nonstops in Philadelphia

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