with $100k coming in, swapping out of Rochester

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

swapping out of rochester

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

in our guides

#6

of 10

Most walkable cities in America

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities for live music and arts

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities to escape the heat

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for outdoor athletes

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities with year-round outdoor weather

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for cyclists

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to live in California

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for foodies

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities for dog owners

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities with mild winters

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,849

the monthly premium over Rochester

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

102% more expensive than Rochester(vs $1,534/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$287/mo more in state tax than Rochester

vs 5.85% in Rochester

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,849 less than Rochester

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

04a house here

$934k

242% more expensive than Rochester

vs $273k in Rochester

05metro size

282k

vs 1.1M in Rochester

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Rochester barely cracks 147 pleasant ones.

Lighter on events: Rochester packs 3.0× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

17% higher than Rochester

vs 58/100 in Rochester

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

·walk score®

98/100

42% higher than Rochester

vs 69/100 in Rochester

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

83% fewer than Rochester

vs 18 nonstops in Rochester

04 · see also

same energy as san luis obispo, different zip code:

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