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→San Diego
San Diego is the city most Californians secretly wish they lived in: 70°F, sunny, and a beach for every mood. Fish tacos are religion, Balboa Park is bigger than Central Park and packed with museums, and the craft beer scene is one of the best in the country. The zoo is world-famous and the burritos are aggressively underrated. Even the freeways feel relaxed here.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$2,890/mo
$462/mo less than Santa Maria (16%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$1.0M
$48k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
9.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$4,668/mo
San Diego has $462/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
332 days
5 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 and San Diego have remarkably similar weather profiles overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
75 / 100
16.0 pts ahead of Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
55 routes
53 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
3.3M metro
the verdict
1
Santa Maria
categories won
5
San Diego
categories won
San Diego wins this comparison, leading on money and lifestyle.
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