$100k a year, no longer in San Jose
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 for live music and arts
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Best cities with mild winters
read the guidethe verdict
cheaper each month than San Jose
San Luis Obispo is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
11% cheaper than San Jose(vs $3,470/mo)
9.3%
vs 9.3% in San Jose
$4,463/mo
$375 more than San Jose
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
48% cheaper than San Jose
vs $1796k in San Jose
282k
vs 1.9M in San Jose
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
San Jose only logs 283 pleasant days.
But the calendar thins out: San Jose stays 6.2× busier.
68/100
3% lower than San Jose
vs 70/100 in San Jose
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
3% higher than San Jose
vs 95/100 in San Jose
3
90% fewer than San Jose
vs 29 nonstops in San Jose
in the same ballpark as san luis obispo:
