on $100k a year, leaving Santa Maria

change
Mobile, AL cityscape

if you left santa maria

Mobile

al · metro 412k

photo: Pixabay / pexels

a dispatch from

mobile

AL

30.69°N

88.04°W

Mobile threw the first Mardi Gras in America (1703, predating New Orleans), and the city still celebrates it with the same parade-and-moon-pie energy. The historic district has wrought-iron balconies and live oaks dripping Spanish moss. Mobile Bay seafood (especially fried shrimp and crab claws) is the local star. It's Gulf Coast, French-Spanish-British-Creole layered, and chiller than its bigger neighbors.

metro412k

in our guides

#2

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#1

of 10

Sunniest affordable US cities

read the guide
#1

of 10

Affordable cities to escape the cold

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for retirees who love the outdoors

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for families

read the guide
#2

of 10

Cheapest cities in America

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to leave New York for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Los Angeles for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Chicago for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Austin

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Phoenix for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Denver for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Austin for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best affordable coastal cities

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to escape the heat

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for a $75k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for a $100k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for a $150k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to leave Boston for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to buy a home

read the guide
#3

of 10

Most affordable cities to buy a home

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Nashville for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Miami for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities for snowbirds

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Portland for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Nashville

read the guide
#3

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Miami

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best affordable coastal cities for families

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best warm affordable coastal cities

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities where buying beats renting

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave San Diego for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to leave Minneapolis for

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities with mild winters

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for a $60k salary

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to retire early

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$2,409

lighter monthly cost than Santa Maria

Mobile is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
landable, recorded on the mobile entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,302/mo

61% cheaper than Santa Maria(vs $3,352/mo)

02state income tax

5%

$358/mo less in state tax than Santa Maria

vs 9.3% in Santa Maria

03after rent

$6,615/mo

$2,409 more than Santa Maria

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$194k

82% cheaper than Santa Maria

vs $1059k in Santa Maria

05metro size

412k

vs 441k in Santa Maria

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

225

pleasant days a year, in mobile.

Santa Maria edges ahead with 337 pleasant days.

·outdoorscore

59/100

0% lower than Santa Maria

vs 59/100 in Santa Maria

Closest outdoor draw: Gulf State Park, 39.2 mi.

·walk score®

69/100

21% lower than Santa Maria

vs 87/100 in Santa Maria

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

5

150% more than Santa Maria

vs 2 nonstops in Santa Maria

04 · see also

neighbors of mobile on the map of tradeoffs:

compare mobile with: