Cost of Living in San Luis Obispo, California, United States

Are you considering a move to San Luis Obispo, California, United States, and wondering about the cost of living? San Luis Obispo, California is a diverse city with a lot to offer, but like any city, it comes with its own set of expenses. In this page, we'll break down the cost of living in San Luis Obispo, California and help you understand whether $4219 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $6033.79.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
San Luis Obispo, California, United States
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

22.0 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

80.0 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

9.75 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

7.0 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

9.0 $

Cappuccino (regular)

4.3 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

2.79 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

1.99 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.11 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

3.95 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

4.59 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

3.52 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

11.02 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

13.59 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

15.7 $

Apples (1 lb)

3.52 $

Banana (1 lb)

1.39 $

Oranges (1 lb)

3.28 $

Tomato (1 lb)

3.3 $

Potato (1 lb)

2.84 $

Onion (1 lb)

2.51 $

Lettuce (1 head)

1.58 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

1.99 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

15.99 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

1.79 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

1.75 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

9.93 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

1.5 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

40.0 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

6.25 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

1.49 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

22.5 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.34 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

25082.0 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

20433.33 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

357.5 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

--

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

72.5 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

56.67 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

20.0 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

14.25 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

1525.0 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

--

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

51.67 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

50.0 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

91.67 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

120.0 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

2216.67 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

1800.0 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

4800.0 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

3666.67 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

7689.02 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

6268.18 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

6033.79 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

5.8 %

Cost of Living in San Luis Obispo, California, United States

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the monthly cost of living in San Luis Obispo, California?

The monthly expenses for living in San Luis Obispo, California come to a total of approximately $4219. This includes an average monthly rent of around $2216 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $393 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $902 per month.

How affordable is living in San Luis Obispo, California?

Living in San Luis Obispo, California appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $6033.79. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in San Luis Obispo, California, you would likely need an income exceeding $6033.79.

What is the average salary in San Luis Obispo, California?

In San Luis Obispo, California, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $6033.79, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.

What is the average rent in San Luis Obispo, California?

The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of San Luis Obispo, California is approximately $2216. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $1800.0 for such an apartment.

What is the cost of groceries in San Luis Obispo, California?

The expense for groceries in San Luis Obispo, California can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $689 per month for groceries. Nevertheless, the actual costs may change depending on various factors, including the specific items bought, the choice of stores, and the availability of discounts or special offers.

What is the cost of living in United States?

The cost of living in United States can vary significantly depending on the particular city you have in mind. Using a nationwide average might not provide accurate information. To get a more precise understanding, it's crucial to examine the cost of living in various cities throughout United States.

San Luis Obispo, California, United States

How Safe Is San Luis Obispo, California, United States for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in San Luis Obispo, California, United States

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here as there are no hard targets nearby.

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low overall risk here. This is a town filled with college students and young professionals that somehow figured out how to manage the exorbitant cost of living in this idyllic town.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

There's low risk with any option you choose. The downtown area is easily walkable, but there's also a Trolley throughout the year if your feet are tired. The city is very bike-friendly and has more than 60 ridable miles. SLO Transit is the bus system here and you can download an app to track your bus live. Traditional taxis and rideshares are also available.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

There were no reports of pickpockets in 2020. This is a safe area to visit and there's a low risk you'll be a pickpocket victim.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

The weather here is ideal almost every day, but there's always an undercurrent of earthquake worry as SLO sits near the San Andreas Fault Line. There's a low-risk day in and out, but overall it's a medium risk because you need to be aware of earthquake safety steps. Wildfires can also happen in this area. While the Nine Sisters peaks are technically volcanoes, they've long gone dormant, so there's no worry about that.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

There were just 28 robberies in SLO in 2020, and only a fraction was tourist-related. That's a low risk. You still should use caution when walking through new areas at night and always stay where the streetlights are on. Don't wander down alleys, even in a happy city like SLO.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

The main scams in this area target residents and food delivery drivers. Tourists have a low risk, but don't let that make you too comfortable. If something seems too good to be true, it is.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here provided you keep your wits about you if you are enjoying the nightlife in SLO. While it's never a good idea to walk alone at night, there are plenty of ride options here to get you home safely. With 39 rapes reported in 2020, it's important to never go home with someone you just met and don't drink from a glass if you didn't see the drink poured.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The water here meets or exceeds required standards and there have been no health violations on record for the past few years. There's a low risk.

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

All of the Visa information is handled at the airport or port of entry and nothing else is needed to visit SLO or the surrounding area.

currency_exchange

Currency

You'll use the U.S. Dollar here. Bring a little bit of change with you for public transportation if you plan on using it. Other than that, most of the purchases can be made with a major credit card.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

Winters are pretty mild here, with highs in the 60s and lows into the 40s, so you can bring long sleeves and a jacket. Spring and summer get into the high-70s and '80s with lows into the 50s year-round. This isn't a sunny, warm beach vacation, but people here say the weather is almost perfect since it's a nice balance of not too cold and not too hot.

flight_takeoff

Airports

San Luis Obispo has a regional airport on the south side of the city. The Los Angeles International Airport is about three hours south and the San Francisco International Airport is three and a half hours north.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

You should get travel insurance for your trip to SLO. With just a regional airport nearby and a long drive from a major airport, there are too many things that could go wrong with your trip to San Luis Obispo, California.

San Luis Obispo, California, United States

What about weather in San Luis Obispo, California, United States ?
Average Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 64°F 65°F 66°F 68°F 71°F 74°F 77°F 78°F 77°F 75°F 69°F 64°F
Temp 51°F 53°F 54°F 56°F 59°F 61°F 64°F 64°F 64°F 61°F 55°F 51°F
Low 42°F 44°F 45°F 46°F 49°F 52°F 55°F 55°F 54°F 51°F 45°F 41°F
Average Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 17°C 18°C 18°C 20°C 21°C 23°C 25°C 25°C 25°C 23°C 20°C 17°C
Temp 10°C 11°C 12°C 13°C 15°C 16°C 17°C 17°C 17°C 16°C 12°C 10°C
Low 5°C 6°C 7°C 7°C 9°C 11°C 12°C 12°C 12°C 10°C 7°C 5°C

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