same $100k income, fresh start from Cape Coral
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
pricier each month than Cape Coral
Santa Maria doesn't pretend to be affordable. Move here for what Santa Maria is, not for what it leaves on your monthly ledger.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
80% more expensive than Cape Coral(vs $1,859/mo)
9.3%
$775/mo more in state tax than Cape Coral
vs 0% in Cape Coral
$4,206/mo
$2,268 less than Cape Coral
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
198% more expensive than Cape Coral
vs $355k in Cape Coral
441k
vs 835k in Cape Coral
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Cape Coral barely cracks 250 pleasant ones.
59/100
7% higher than Cape Coral
vs 55/100 in Cape Coral
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
107% higher than Cape Coral
vs 42/100 in Cape Coral
2
94% fewer than Cape Coral
vs 33 nonstops in Cape Coral
if santa maria appeals, also worth a look:
