Cost of Living in San Luis Obispo County, California
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How San Luis Obispo County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
San Luis Obispo County ranks #3,088 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 2%)
Sourced county brief
San Luis Obispo County Median Gross Rent Matches $1,992 Monthly
The median gross rent in San Luis Obispo County was estimated at $1,992 per month. This figure is $301 above the California unweighted county mean of $1,691. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 34.1%, which is 2.4 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 31.7%. For homeowners, the median home value was recorded at $824,700, which is $220,588 higher than the state unweighted mean of $604,112. Median selected monthly owner costs for all units were $2,118. Renter households had a median income of $65,806. These statistics provide a snapshot of housing costs based on ACS B25071 and related tables and do not represent a prediction of future market conditions. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: San Luis Obispo County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 34.1% of renter household income in San Luis Obispo County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,992 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,118. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $79,680 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The California unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,691 per month. San Luis Obispo County's $1,992 median is 17.8% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in San Luis Obispo County
Rent Burden
24.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,274
per month
Owner Cost Burden
26.1%
of gross income
The median home in San Luis Obispo County may be a stretch
Median home value is $824,700. Estimated monthly cost: $6,584 vs. your max of $2,274.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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