$100k salary, packing up from Salt Lake City
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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Best cities with mild winters
read the guidethe verdict
the monthly premium over Salt Lake City
A real premium for San Luis Obispo. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
92% more expensive than Salt Lake City(vs $1,608/mo)
9.3%
$388/mo more in state tax than Salt Lake City
vs 4.65% in Salt Lake City
$4,463/mo
$1,875 less than Salt Lake City
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
60% more expensive than Salt Lake City
vs $584k in Salt Lake City
282k
vs 1.3M in Salt Lake City
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Salt Lake City only manages 168 of those.
But the calendar thins out: Salt Lake City stays 6.2× busier.
68/100
13% lower than Salt Lake City
vs 78/100 in Salt Lake City
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
23% higher than Salt Lake City
vs 80/100 in Salt Lake City
3
97% fewer than Salt Lake City
vs 90 nonstops in Salt Lake City
if san luis obispo appeals, also worth a look:
