on $100k a year, leaving Tucson
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 Tucson
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
132% more expensive than Tucson(vs $1,444/mo)
9.3%
$567/mo more in state tax than Tucson
vs 2.5% in Tucson
$4,206/mo
$2,475 less than Tucson
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
200% more expensive than Tucson
vs $352k in Tucson
441k
vs 1.1M in Tucson
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Tucson barely cracks 202 pleasant ones.
Noticeably quieter than Tucson. About 100% fewer events on a typical month.
59/100
11% lower than Tucson
vs 66/100 in Tucson
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
30% higher than Tucson
vs 67/100 in Tucson
2
87% fewer than Tucson
vs 16 nonstops in Tucson
if santa maria appeals, also worth a look:
