same $100k income, fresh start from Ann Arbor
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
more expensive each month than Ann Arbor
A real premium for Santa Maria. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
61% more expensive than Ann Arbor(vs $2,082/mo)
9.3%
$421/mo more in state tax than Ann Arbor
vs 4.25% in Ann Arbor
$4,206/mo
$1,691 less than Ann Arbor
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
147% more expensive than Ann Arbor
vs $429k in Ann Arbor
441k
vs 366k in Ann Arbor
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Ann Arbor only manages 154 of those.
100% fewer events than Ann Arbor. The pace eases up.
59/100
5% higher than Ann Arbor
vs 56/100 in Ann Arbor
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
10% lower than Ann Arbor
vs 97/100 in Ann Arbor
2
99% fewer than Ann Arbor
vs 135 nonstops in Ann Arbor
same energy as santa maria, different zip code:
