$100k salary, packing up from New Orleans
changea dispatch from
santa rosa
CA
38.44°N
122.71°W
Santa Rosa is the gateway to Sonoma wine country, less polished than Napa but more lived-in. Charles Schulz lived here and the Snoopy museum is a delight. The Russian River redwoods are 30 minutes west. The city itself has rebuilt impressively after the 2017 fires, with a downtown that mixes wineries, breweries, and farm-to-table restaurants. Cooler than San Francisco in summer.
the verdict
the monthly premium over New Orleans
Santa Rosa is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
a quick ledger.
$2,597/mo
61% more expensive than New Orleans(vs $1,612/mo)
9.3%
$525/mo more in state tax than New Orleans
vs 3% in New Orleans
$4,961/mo
$1,510 less than New Orleans
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$817k
215% more expensive than New Orleans
vs $259k in New Orleans
482k
vs 962k in New Orleans
field notes, weather & such.
254
pleasant days a year, in santa rosa.
New Orleans barely cracks 235 pleasant ones. Summers run hot, though: 28 days above 95° vs New Orleans's 3.
Lighter on events: New Orleans packs 96.0× more into a month.
69/100
25% higher than New Orleans
vs 55/100 in New Orleans
Closest outdoor draw: Sonoma Coast State Park, 17.4 mi.
98/100
0% lower than New Orleans
vs 98/100 in New Orleans
4
90% fewer than New Orleans
vs 39 nonstops in New Orleans
in the same ballpark as santa rosa:
compare santa rosa with:
