01 · the cities
San Luis Obispo
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.
full dispatch→New Orleans
New Orleans doesn't run on time, it runs on rhythm. The brass bands roll second-line parades through the streets for weddings, funerals, and Tuesdays, the gumbo is a personality test, and the French Quarter's wrought-iron balconies look exactly like the postcards. Mardi Gras is real life here, not a stunt. The air carries beignet sugar, river mist, and someone's trumpet warming up two blocks over.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,095/mo
$1,612/mo
$1,483/mo less than San Luis Obispo (92%)
Median home price
Median home price
$934k
$259k
$675k less than San Luis Obispo
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
3.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,463/mo
$6,471/mo
New Orleans has $2,008/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
303 days
235 days
68 fewer than San Luis Obispo
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
14 days
3 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
San Luis Obispo has 11 more days above 95°F each year than New Orleans.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
68 / 100
55 / 100
13.0 pts behind San Luis Obispo
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
3 routes
39 routes
36 more direct routes than San Luis Obispo
Metro size
Metro size
282k metro
962k metro
San Luis Obispo has 9.6x fewer events per month than New Orleans.
the verdict
2
San Luis Obispo
categories won
6
New Orleans
categories won
New Orleans leads on money and wins overall.
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