with $100k coming in, swapping out of Richmond

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

next stop after richmond

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

$1,700

more expensive each month than Richmond

San Luis Obispo costs noticeably more than Richmond. You'd be paying for San Luis Obispo itself, not for breathing room around it.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

83% more expensive than Richmond(vs $1,691/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$296/mo more in state tax than Richmond

vs 5.75% in Richmond

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,700 less than Richmond

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

04a house here

$934k

137% more expensive than Richmond

vs $394k in Richmond

05metro size

282k

vs 1.4M in Richmond

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Richmond keeps to 172 pleasant days a year.

But the calendar thins out: Richmond stays 5.8× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

5% higher than Richmond

vs 65/100 in Richmond

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

·walk score®

98/100

42% higher than Richmond

vs 69/100 in Richmond

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

84% fewer than Richmond

vs 19 nonstops in Richmond

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