$100k salary, packing up from Washington

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San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

from washington

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

$810

the monthly premium over Washington

San Luis Obispo costs noticeably more than Washington. You'd be paying for San Luis Obispo itself, not for breathing room around it.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

32% more expensive than Washington(vs $2,352/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$67/mo more in state tax than Washington

vs 8.5% in Washington

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$810 less than Washington

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

04a house here

$934k

49% more expensive than Washington

vs $626k in Washington

05metro size

282k

vs 6.3M in Washington

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Washington only manages 177 of those.

94% fewer events than Washington. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

22% lower than Washington

vs 87/100 in Washington

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

·walk score®

98/100

0% lower than Washington

vs 98/100 in Washington

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

98% fewer than Washington

vs 160 nonstops in Washington

04 · see also

neighbors of san luis obispo on the map of tradeoffs:

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