CostIndexUSA

Napa, CA vs San Luis Obispo, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Napa
112.6
overall index
$2,825/mo rent
More AffordableCA
San Luis Obispo
108.6
overall index
$3,000/mo rent

San Luis Obispo is slightly cheaper than Napa — 3.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Napa, you would need $77,200 in San Luis Obispo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing26.8%
Napa
197.4
San Luis Obispo
144.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Napa
105.2
San Luis Obispo
105.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Napa
105.3
San Luis Obispo
105.3
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Napa
95.3
San Luis Obispo
95.3
Utilities5.6%
Napa
156.5
San Luis Obispo
147.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Napa to see what you'd need to earn in San Luis Obispo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in San Luis Obispo, CA
$77,200
$2,800 less needed in San Luis Obispo

Formula: salary × (108.6 ÷ 112.6) = salary × 0.9645. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Napa, CA

Median Home Price
$867,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,825
Housing Index
197.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.6×

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Home Price
$880,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,000
Housing Index
144.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.4×

Napa has 26.8% lower housing costs compared to San Luis Obispo.

Income & Job Market

Napa, CA

Median Household Income
$104,700
Per Capita Income
$59,700
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
79,426
Top Industries
WineTourismHealthcareAgricultureRetail

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Household Income
$90,700
Per Capita Income
$51,700
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
47,536
Top Industries
EducationTourismAgricultureHealthcareTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Napa, CA
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

68% of income left after rent (median)

San Luis Obispo, CA
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

60% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.