with $100k coming in, swapping out of San Luis Obispo
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 San Luis Obispo
Santa Maria costs more than San Luis Obispo, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
8% more expensive than San Luis Obispo(vs $3,095/mo)
9.3%
vs 9.3% in San Luis Obispo
$4,206/mo
$257 less than San Luis Obispo
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
13% more expensive than San Luis Obispo
vs $934k in San Luis Obispo
441k
vs 282k in San Luis Obispo
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
San Luis Obispo only logs 303 pleasant days.
But the calendar thins out: San Luis Obispo stays Infinity× busier.
59/100
13% lower than San Luis Obispo
vs 68/100 in San Luis Obispo
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
11% lower than San Luis Obispo
vs 98/100 in San Luis Obispo
2
33% fewer than San Luis Obispo
vs 3 nonstops in San Luis Obispo
if santa maria appeals, also worth a look:
