same $100k income, fresh start from Augusta
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 Augusta
Santa Maria costs noticeably more than Augusta. You'd be paying for Santa Maria itself, not for breathing room around it.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
132% more expensive than Augusta(vs $1,443/mo)
9.3%
$318/mo more in state tax than Augusta
vs 5.49% in Augusta
$4,206/mo
$2,227 less than Augusta
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
328% more expensive than Augusta
vs $247k in Augusta
441k
vs 628k in Augusta
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Augusta only manages 191 of those.
Noticeably quieter than Augusta. About 100% fewer events on a typical month.
59/100
28% higher than Augusta
vs 46/100 in Augusta
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
18% higher than Augusta
vs 74/100 in Augusta
2
33% fewer than Augusta
vs 3 nonstops in Augusta
if santa maria appeals, also worth a look:
