Relocation profile · Federal data
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
LiveAbility 25/100 places San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles #382 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
- 108.6
- Cost index (US=100)
- $2,512
- 2BR rent / mo
- $77,257
- Median salary
- 25
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles ranks #382 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (25/100), with its strongest marks in job market and climate.
- #382
- of 387 US metros · Well below median
- 39,431,263
- metro-area population
- 477
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 10,006
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: housing (3/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles ranks #382 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 108.6 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $2,512/mo, median salary $77,257; LiveAbility Score 25/100, strongest in job market and climate.
Signature: LiveAbility 25/100 places San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles #382 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 108.6 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $2,512/mo.
LiveAbility 25/100 puts San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles in the bottom third (#382 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles area is 112,830.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
25 Top 99% higher than 1% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles MSA; housing RPP 144.4 (100 = national average); 2BR $2,512/mo.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles wages and employment
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles posts 112,830 total employment with median salary $77,257 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,780 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,350 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $36,570 |
| Cashiers | $36,550 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles's composite Life Score is 38.8/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles ranks #382 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 25/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Job market
Job market
92 /100
- Climate
Climate
66 /100
- Air quality 24
Air quality
24 /100
- Safety 9
Safety
9 /100
- Low hazard 9
Low hazard
9 /100
- Cost of living 4
Cost of living
4 /100
- Schools 4
Schools
4 /100
- Housing 3
Housing
3 /100
What this shows San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles's strongest dimensions are job market and climate; its weakest among scored dims is housing at 3/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles to
Metros near San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles runs a $77,257 median salary at a 108.6 cost index, ranking #382 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.