with $100k coming in, swapping out of San Jose
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
less monthly outlay than San Jose
Money-wise it's a wash. The case for Santa Maria is everything that isn't rent.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
3% cheaper than San Jose(vs $3,470/mo)
9.3%
vs 9.3% in San Jose
$4,206/mo
$118 more than San Jose
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
41% cheaper than San Jose
vs $1796k in San Jose
441k
vs 1.9M in San Jose
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
San Jose keeps to 283 pleasant days a year.
Noticeably quieter than San Jose. About 100% fewer events on a typical month.
59/100
16% lower than San Jose
vs 70/100 in San Jose
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
8% lower than San Jose
vs 95/100 in San Jose
2
93% fewer than San Jose
vs 29 nonstops in San Jose
in the same ballpark as santa maria:
