$100k a year, no longer in Phoenix

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

instead of phoenix

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

$1,923

more each month than Phoenix ran you

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

78% more expensive than Phoenix(vs $1,739/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$567/mo more in state tax than Phoenix

vs 2.5% in Phoenix

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,923 less than Phoenix

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

04a house here

$934k

104% more expensive than Phoenix

vs $458k in Phoenix

05metro size

282k

vs 5.1M in Phoenix

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Phoenix barely cracks 181 pleasant ones.

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

68/100

3% higher than Phoenix

vs 66/100 in Phoenix

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

·walk score®

98/100

1% higher than Phoenix

vs 97/100 in Phoenix

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

97% fewer than Phoenix

vs 91 nonstops in Phoenix

04 · see also

neighbors of san luis obispo on the map of tradeoffs:

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