on $100k a year, leaving Seattle
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
read the guideof 10
Best cities for live music and arts
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Best cities with mild winters
read the guidethe verdict
more each month than Seattle ran you
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.
a quick ledger.
$3,095/mo
41% more expensive than Seattle(vs $2,193/mo)
9.3%
$775/mo more in state tax than Seattle
vs 0% in Seattle
$4,463/mo
$1,677 less than Seattle
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$934k
18% more expensive than Seattle
vs $791k in Seattle
282k
vs 4.0M in Seattle
field notes, weather & such.
303
pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.
Seattle barely cracks 182 pleasant ones.
Noticeably quieter than Seattle. About 96% fewer events on a typical month.
68/100
27% lower than Seattle
vs 93/100 in Seattle
Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.
98/100
0% lower than Seattle
vs 98/100 in Seattle
3
97% fewer than Seattle
vs 90 nonstops in Seattle
neighbors of san luis obispo on the map of tradeoffs:
