$100k salary, packing up from Allentown
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 Allentown
Santa Maria is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
85% more expensive than Allentown(vs $1,809/mo)
9.3%
$519/mo more in state tax than Allentown
vs 3.07% in Allentown
$4,206/mo
$2,063 less than Allentown
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
195% more expensive than Allentown
vs $359k in Allentown
441k
vs 874k in Allentown
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Allentown only logs 157 pleasant days.
100% fewer events than Allentown. The pace eases up.
59/100
19% lower than Allentown
vs 73/100 in Allentown
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
1% higher than Allentown
vs 86/100 in Allentown
2
78% fewer than Allentown
vs 9 nonstops in Allentown
if santa maria appeals, also worth a look:
