$100k salary, packing up from York

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

swapping out of york

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

$2,254

the monthly premium over York

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

127% more expensive than York(vs $1,361/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$519/mo more in state tax than York

vs 3.07% in York

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$2,254 less than York

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

04a house here

$934k

201% more expensive than York

vs $310k in York

05metro size

282k

vs 465k in York

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

York barely cracks 159 pleasant ones.

A month here packs 10.0× the events of York.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

6% higher than York

vs 64/100 in York

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

·walk score®

98/100

5% higher than York

vs 93/100 in York

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

75% fewer than York

vs 12 nonstops in York

04 · see also

cities that play in san luis obispo's register:

compare san luis obispo with: