2025 Compare Cities Overview:
San Luis Obispo, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in San Luis Obispo?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 13.1 years older than in San Luis Obispo.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 63.6% more expensive than San Luis Obispo housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 2.0 minutes longer than it is for residents of San Luis Obispo.

Things to do in San Luis Obispo?
San Luis Obispo, California is located on the Central Coast and offers stunning views of rolling hills and the Pacific Ocean. It's a great place to live with its temperate climate, excellent restaurants and unique shops. Every year locals flock to the famous Thursday night Farmer’s Market or to outdoor festivals like the SLO County Fair. For outdoor activities there are plenty of parks and trails plus beaches for surfing and swimming.

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

 San Luis Obispo, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$61,862  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$932,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time15.16  Unlock26.38
Reviews for San Luis Obispo    21 Reviews

MY FIANCEE AND I ARE LOOKING TO MOVE TO SLO FOR RETIREMENT ( NEXT MONTH ) WE ARE BOTH ARTISTS AND HOPE OUR TALENT WILL HELP WITH COST OF LIVING IN SLO!!! ANY  More

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Over 10 years ago

In almost any season of the year in San Luis Obispo, you’ll find the sun shining and the temperature hitting around 70º at some point in the day. With the temperature  More

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San Luis Obispo and surrounding areas are beautiful, great weather, beaches, farms markets, a downtown area full of some of the best bars and restaurants, wine country,  More

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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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