with $100k coming in, swapping out of Honolulu
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 Honolulu
Santa Maria costs more than Honolulu, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
18% more expensive than Honolulu(vs $2,843/mo)
9.3%
$142/mo less in state tax than Honolulu
vs 11% in Honolulu
$4,206/mo
$368 less than Honolulu
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
0% more expensive than Honolulu
vs $1061k in Honolulu
441k
vs 989k in Honolulu
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Honolulu only logs 316 pleasant days.
Noticeably quieter than Honolulu. About 100% fewer events on a typical month.
59/100
7% higher than Honolulu
vs 55/100 in Honolulu
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
12% lower than Honolulu
vs 99/100 in Honolulu
2
96% fewer than Honolulu
vs 51 nonstops in Honolulu
cities that play in santa maria's register:
