$100k salary, packing up from Springfield

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

if you left springfield

San Luis Obispo

ca · metro 282k

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

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$2,230

the monthly cost of moving past Springfield

A real premium for San Luis Obispo. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

148% more expensive than Springfield(vs $1,249/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$383/mo more in state tax than Springfield

vs 4.7% in Springfield

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$2,230 less than Springfield

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

04a house here

$934k

248% more expensive than Springfield

vs $268k in Springfield

05metro size

282k

vs 491k in Springfield

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Springfield only manages 170 of those.

Springfield hosts 1.6× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

36% higher than Springfield

vs 50/100 in Springfield

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

·walk score®

98/100

10% higher than Springfield

vs 89/100 in Springfield

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

67% fewer than Springfield

vs 9 nonstops in Springfield

04 · see also

neighbors of san luis obispo on the map of tradeoffs:

compare san luis obispo with: