same $100k income, fresh start from Indianapolis
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 each month than Indianapolis ran you
A real premium for Santa Maria. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
122% more expensive than Indianapolis(vs $1,511/mo)
9.3%
$525/mo more in state tax than Indianapolis
vs 3% in Indianapolis
$4,206/mo
$2,366 less than Indianapolis
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
258% more expensive than Indianapolis
vs $296k in Indianapolis
441k
vs 2.1M in Indianapolis
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Indianapolis keeps to 174 pleasant days a year.
Noticeably quieter than Indianapolis. About 100% fewer events on a typical month.
59/100
5% lower than Indianapolis
vs 62/100 in Indianapolis
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
12% lower than Indianapolis
vs 99/100 in Indianapolis
2
94% fewer than Indianapolis
vs 35 nonstops in Indianapolis
in the same ballpark as santa maria:
