on $100k a year, leaving Dallas
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 Dallas
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
104% more expensive than Dallas(vs $1,647/mo)
9.3%
$775/mo more in state tax than Dallas
vs 0% in Dallas
$4,206/mo
$2,480 less than Dallas
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
188% more expensive than Dallas
vs $367k in Dallas
441k
vs 8.1M in Dallas
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Dallas barely cracks 171 pleasant ones.
Noticeably quieter than Dallas. About 100% fewer events on a typical month.
59/100
4% higher than Dallas
vs 57/100 in Dallas
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
6% lower than Dallas
vs 93/100 in Dallas
2
99% fewer than Dallas
vs 190 nonstops in Dallas
if santa maria appeals, also worth a look:
