with $100k coming in, swapping out of Miami
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 Miami
Santa Maria is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
26% more expensive than Miami(vs $2,665/mo)
9.3%
$775/mo more in state tax than Miami
vs 0% in Miami
$4,206/mo
$1,462 less than Miami
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
88% more expensive than Miami
vs $565k in Miami
441k
vs 6.2M in Miami
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Miami only logs 272 pleasant days.
But the calendar thins out: Miami stays Infinity× busier.
59/100
23% lower than Miami
vs 77/100 in Miami
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
10% lower than Miami
vs 97/100 in Miami
2
99% fewer than Miami
vs 167 nonstops in Miami
cities that play in santa maria's register:
