same $100k income, fresh start from Raleigh
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
more expensive each month than Raleigh
Santa Rosa costs noticeably more than Raleigh. You'd be paying for Santa Rosa itself, not for breathing room around it.
a quick ledger.
$2,597/mo
56% more expensive than Raleigh(vs $1,663/mo)
9.3%
$400/mo more in state tax than Raleigh
vs 4.5% in Raleigh
$4,961/mo
$1,334 less than Raleigh
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$817k
86% more expensive than Raleigh
vs $440k in Raleigh
482k
vs 1.5M in Raleigh
field notes, weather & such.
254
pleasant days a year, in santa rosa.
Raleigh keeps to 201 pleasant days a year. Warm, not extreme: 28 days clear 95°, vs 5 back in Raleigh.
Lighter on events: Raleigh packs 47.0× more into a month.
69/100
19% higher than Raleigh
vs 58/100 in Raleigh
Closest outdoor draw: Sonoma Coast State Park, 17.4 mi.
98/100
1% higher than Raleigh
vs 97/100 in Raleigh
4
90% fewer than Raleigh
vs 39 nonstops in Raleigh
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