Cost of Living in San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo has a population of about 48,491. The median household income is $73,685, median gross rent is $1,965/month, and the median home value is $935,100. These figures come from 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates, the latest full-coverage Census baseline for U.S. cities.
How current is this? Census city data is released with a lag because it is survey-based and designed for consistent coverage across small and large places. Use it as an official affordability baseline; current apartment listings and mortgage rates may differ.
Is San Luis Obispo expensive to live in?
Compared with the national median in this dataset, rent in San Luis Obispo is 19% above the national median and home values are 150% above the national median. Household income here is 12% below the national median. Monthly rent represents roughly 32% of the median annual household income, a rough affordability signal for renters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Luis Obispo?
The median gross rent in San Luis Obispo, California is $1,965 per month in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
What is the median home price in San Luis Obispo?
The median owner-occupied home value in San Luis Obispo is $935,100 in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
How much do people earn in San Luis Obispo?
The median household income in San Luis Obispo is $73,685 per year in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Local database last refreshed 2026-07-11.