on $100k a year, leaving San Francisco
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
of 10
Most walkable cities in America
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Best cities with mild winters
read the guidethe verdict
lighter monthly cost than San Francisco
A near-tie on cost. What separates San Luis Obispo is the life around the numbers.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
2% cheaper than San Francisco(vs $3,146/mo)
9.3%
vs 9.3% in San Francisco
$4,463/mo
$51 more than San Francisco
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
25% cheaper than San Francisco
vs $1239k in San Francisco
282k
vs 4.6M in San Francisco
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
San Francisco has the edge here, logging 312 pleasant days a year.
96% fewer events than San Francisco. The pace eases up.
68/100
18% lower than San Francisco
vs 83/100 in San Francisco
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
1% lower than San Francisco
vs 99/100 in San Francisco
3
97% fewer than San Francisco
vs 111 nonstops in San Francisco
cities that play in san luis obispo's register:
