on $100k a year, leaving Santa Maria

change
Reno, NV cityscape

instead of santa maria

Reno

nv · metro 565k

a dispatch from

reno

NV

39.53°N

119.81°W

Reno calls itself the Biggest Little City in the World and means it: casinos and neon, sure, but also a quietly cool downtown, a strong outdoor culture (Tahoe is 45 minutes south), and the Truckee River running right through the middle of everything. The University of Nevada keeps things young. Burning Man buses depart from here every August. Sunnier and drier than people expect.

metro565k

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$2,219

lighter monthly cost than Santa Maria

Move to Reno and the monthly math gets easier. Santa Maria's rent is the headline; Reno's is a footnote.
landable, recorded on the reno entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,908/mo

43% cheaper than Santa Maria(vs $3,352/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$775/mo less in state tax than Santa Maria

vs 9.3% in Santa Maria

03after rent

$6,425/mo

$2,219 more than Santa Maria

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

04a house here

$574k

46% cheaper than Santa Maria

vs $1059k in Santa Maria

05metro size

565k

vs 441k in Santa Maria

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

201

pleasant days a year, in reno.

Santa Maria has the edge here, logging 337 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 28 days below 20° here, 0 in Santa Maria.

·outdoorscore

71/100

20% higher than Santa Maria

vs 59/100 in Santa Maria

Closest outdoor draw: Tahoe National Forest, 20.1 mi.

·walk score®

95/100

9% higher than Santa Maria

vs 87/100 in Santa Maria

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

550% more than Santa Maria

vs 2 nonstops in Santa Maria

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as reno: