$100k salary, packing up from Charlotte
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 premium over Charlotte
Santa Maria is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
94% more expensive than Charlotte(vs $1,728/mo)
9.3%
$400/mo more in state tax than Charlotte
vs 4.5% in Charlotte
$4,206/mo
$2,024 less than Charlotte
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
171% more expensive than Charlotte
vs $391k in Charlotte
441k
vs 2.8M in Charlotte
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Charlotte only logs 200 pleasant days.
Noticeably quieter than Charlotte. About 100% fewer events on a typical month.
59/100
16% higher than Charlotte
vs 51/100 in Charlotte
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
7% lower than Charlotte
vs 94/100 in Charlotte
2
99% fewer than Charlotte
vs 141 nonstops in Charlotte
cities that play in santa maria's register:
