$100k a year, no longer in Albany
changea dispatch from
santa maria
CA
34.95°N
120.44°W
Santa Maria has its own style of barbecue (tri-tip cooked over red oak with pinquito beans and salsa), which is a legitimate regional tradition that locals will fight you about. The surrounding Santa Maria Valley is becoming serious wine country (especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay). It's quieter and more affordable than its central coast neighbors. The Pacific is right there.
in our guides
the verdict
the monthly cost of moving past Albany
Santa Maria costs noticeably more than Albany. You'd be paying for Santa Maria itself, not for breathing room around it.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
104% more expensive than Albany(vs $1,643/mo)
9.3%
$287/mo more in state tax than Albany
vs 5.85% in Albany
$4,206/mo
$1,997 less than Albany
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
193% more expensive than Albany
vs $361k in Albany
441k
vs 905k in Albany
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Albany only manages 147 of those.
100% fewer events than Albany. The pace eases up.
59/100
18% lower than Albany
vs 72/100 in Albany
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
4% lower than Albany
vs 91/100 in Albany
2
89% fewer than Albany
vs 19 nonstops in Albany
if santa maria appeals, also worth a look:
