on $100k a year, leaving Virginia Beach

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

instead of virginia beach

San Luis Obispo

ca · metro 282k

photo: Juan Montes / pexels

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

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,572

pricier each month than Virginia Beach

San Luis Obispo is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

70% more expensive than Virginia Beach(vs $1,819/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$296/mo more in state tax than Virginia Beach

vs 5.75% in Virginia Beach

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,572 less than Virginia Beach

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

04a house here

$934k

149% more expensive than Virginia Beach

vs $375k in Virginia Beach

05metro size

282k

vs 1.8M in Virginia Beach

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Virginia Beach barely cracks 211 pleasant ones.

Noticeably quieter than Virginia Beach. About 67% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

19% higher than Virginia Beach

vs 57/100 in Virginia Beach

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

·walk score®

98/100

11% higher than Virginia Beach

vs 88/100 in Virginia Beach

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

82% fewer than Virginia Beach

vs 17 nonstops in Virginia Beach

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as san luis obispo:

see also

oxnard

$100/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

honolulu

$111/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

naples

$1,151/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare san luis obispo with:

OxnardHonoluluNaples