with $100k coming in, swapping out of Portland
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 Portland
A real premium for Santa Maria. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
47% more expensive than Portland(vs $2,285/mo)
9.3%
$150/mo more in state tax than Portland
vs 7.5% in Portland
$4,206/mo
$1,217 less than Portland
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
95% more expensive than Portland
vs $543k in Portland
441k
vs 566k in Portland
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Portland only manages 145 of those.
Noticeably quieter than Portland. About 100% fewer events on a typical month.
59/100
17% lower than Portland
vs 71/100 in Portland
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
11% lower than Portland
vs 98/100 in Portland
2
0% fewer than Portland
vs 2 nonstops in Portland
in the same ballpark as santa maria:
