01 · the cities
Santa Maria
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.
full dispatch→Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is the Grand Strand's anchor, with 60 miles of beach, more than 80 mini golf courses (it might be the mini golf capital of America), and a boardwalk packed with arcades and pancake houses. Calabash-style fried seafood is a thing. It's a family beach town, full stop, with affordable oceanfront and easy access to Charleston a few hours south.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,727/mo
$1,625/mo less than Santa Maria (94%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$361k
$698k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
6.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,065/mo
Myrtle Beach has $1,859/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
337 days
249 days
88 fewer than Santa Maria
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Santa Maria edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
58 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
23 routes
21 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
397k metro
the verdict
1
Santa Maria
categories won
5
Myrtle Beach
categories won
Myrtle Beach wins this comparison, leading on money and lifestyle.
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