same $100k income, fresh start from Provo
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 Provo
Santa Maria doesn't pretend to be affordable. Move here for what Santa Maria is, not for what it leaves on your monthly ledger.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
92% more expensive than Provo(vs $1,743/mo)
9.3%
$388/mo more in state tax than Provo
vs 4.65% in Provo
$4,206/mo
$1,997 less than Provo
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
89% more expensive than Provo
vs $559k in Provo
441k
vs 733k in Provo
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Provo only logs 171 pleasant days.
Noticeably quieter than Provo. About 100% fewer events on a typical month.
59/100
27% lower than Provo
vs 81/100 in Provo
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
2% lower than Provo
vs 89/100 in Provo
2
98% fewer than Provo
vs 91 nonstops in Provo
in the same ballpark as santa maria:
