Uprootmap
Santa Maria vs San Luis Obispo
Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo
Photo: AlmanacHobbyist / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in San Luis Obispo are under the US rate in this release, 1.8 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Santa Maria to San Luis Obispo
In 2022-2023, 840 households filed a move from Santa Maria to San Luis Obispo (about 1,471 people, average adjusted gross income $91,325). 722 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,323 in Santa Maria and $2,013 in San Luis Obispo. Santa Maria has a state tax on wages. San Luis Obispo has a state tax on wages. Local pay in San Luis Obispo is 88% of the national level for the same work, against 88% in Santa Maria.
San Luis Obispo averages 263 sunny days, with July highs around 101°F and January nights around 40°F. Santa Maria is 263 sunny days, 95°F in July, 40°F in January. Commutes average 21 minutes in San Luis Obispo and 21 in Santa Maria.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 840 households moved Santa Maria → San Luis Obispo (about 1,471 people, average AGI $91,325). 722 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 76 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,000
- Container or pod
- $1,050–$2,000
- Rent a truck
- $400–$700
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Dig into San Luis Obispo
Questions
Is San Luis Obispo cheaper than Santa Maria after tax and rent?
Yes. San Luis Obispo leaves about $298 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,323 in Santa Maria and $2,013 in San Luis Obispo.
Does San Luis Obispo have state income tax?
San Luis Obispo is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Santa Maria to San Luis Obispo?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.