$100k salary, packing up from Providence

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San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

next stop after providence

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

$1,244

more each month than Providence ran you

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

46% more expensive than Providence(vs $2,127/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$276/mo more in state tax than Providence

vs 5.99% in Providence

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,244 less than Providence

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

04a house here

$934k

77% more expensive than Providence

vs $528k in Providence

05metro size

282k

vs 1.7M in Providence

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Providence only logs 159 pleasant days.

Noticeably quieter than Providence. About 52% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

8% higher than Providence

vs 63/100 in Providence

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

·walk score®

98/100

2% higher than Providence

vs 96/100 in Providence

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

82% fewer than Providence

vs 17 nonstops in Providence

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