same $100k income, fresh start from Des Moines
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 Des Moines
Santa Maria costs noticeably more than Des Moines. You'd be paying for Santa Maria itself, not for breathing room around it.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
164% more expensive than Des Moines(vs $1,268/mo)
9.3%
$275/mo more in state tax than Des Moines
vs 6% in Des Moines
$4,206/mo
$2,359 less than Des Moines
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
254% more expensive than Des Moines
vs $300k in Des Moines
441k
vs 737k in Des Moines
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Des Moines keeps to 151 pleasant days a year.
Des Moines hosts Infinity× more events.
59/100
7% higher than Des Moines
vs 55/100 in Des Moines
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
12% higher than Des Moines
vs 78/100 in Des Moines
2
88% fewer than Des Moines
vs 17 nonstops in Des Moines
if santa maria appeals, also worth a look:
