on $100k a year, leaving Santa Maria

change
Washington, DC cityscape

swapping out of santa maria

Washington

dc · metro 6.3M

a dispatch from

washington

DC

38.91°N

77.04°W

Washington DC is power dressed in seersucker. The monuments glow at night, the Smithsonian museums are all free (yes, all of them), and the cherry blossoms in April make even cynical lobbyists pause for a selfie. It's one of the most international cities in America (embassies from everywhere), with food scenes to match. The vibe shifts every four years and the architecture stays magnificent through all of it.

metro6.3M

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,067

under Santa Maria, every month

Move to Washington and the monthly math gets easier. Santa Maria's rent is the headline; Washington's is a footnote.
landable, recorded on the washington entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,352/mo

30% cheaper than Santa Maria(vs $3,352/mo)

02state income tax

8.5%

$67/mo less in state tax than Santa Maria

vs 9.3% in Santa Maria

03after rent

$5,273/mo

$1,067 more than Santa Maria

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$626k

41% cheaper than Santa Maria

vs $1059k in Santa Maria

05metro size

6.3M

vs 441k in Santa Maria

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

177

pleasant days a year, in washington.

Santa Maria gets 337 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

·outdoorscore

87/100

47% higher than Santa Maria

vs 59/100 in Santa Maria

Closest outdoor draw: George Washington Memorial Parkway, 6.2 mi.

·walk score®

98/100

13% higher than Santa Maria

vs 87/100 in Santa Maria

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

160

7900% more than Santa Maria

vs 2 nonstops in Santa Maria

04 · see also

if washington appeals, also worth a look:

compare washington with: