on $100k a year, leaving Raleigh
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
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Most walkable cities in America
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read the guidethe verdict
pricier each month than Raleigh
San Luis Obispo costs noticeably more than Raleigh. You'd be paying for San Luis Obispo itself, not for breathing room around it.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
86% more expensive than Raleigh(vs $1,663/mo)
9.3%
$400/mo more in state tax than Raleigh
vs 4.5% in Raleigh
$4,463/mo
$1,832 less than Raleigh
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
112% more expensive than Raleigh
vs $440k in Raleigh
282k
vs 1.5M in Raleigh
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Raleigh only manages 201 of those.
Lighter on events: Raleigh packs 4.7× more into a month.
68/100
17% higher than Raleigh
vs 58/100 in Raleigh
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
1% higher than Raleigh
vs 97/100 in Raleigh
3
92% fewer than Raleigh
vs 39 nonstops in Raleigh
same energy as san luis obispo, different zip code:
