Uprootmap
San Diego vs Santa Maria
San Diego and Santa Maria
Photo: Zairon / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Santa Maria are under the US rate in this release, 3.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at San Diego to Santa Maria
In 2022-2023, 286 households filed a move from San Diego to Santa Maria (about 421 people, average adjusted gross income $89,573). 478 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,292 in San Diego and $2,323 in Santa Maria. San Diego has a state tax on wages. Santa Maria has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Santa Maria is 88% of the national level for the same work, against 109% in San Diego.
Santa Maria averages 263 sunny days, with July highs around 95°F and January nights around 40°F. San Diego is 266 sunny days, 78°F in July, 50°F in January. Commutes average 21 minutes in Santa Maria and 27 in San Diego.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 286 households moved San Diego → Santa Maria (about 421 people, average AGI $89,573). 478 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between San Diego and Santa Maria changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 258 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,000–$3,750
- Container or pod
- $1,350–$2,550
- Rent a truck
- $550–$1,050
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Dig into Santa Maria
Questions
Is Santa Maria cheaper than San Diego after tax and rent?
Yes. Santa Maria leaves about $203 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,292 in San Diego and $2,323 in Santa Maria.
Does Santa Maria have state income tax?
Santa Maria is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from San Diego to Santa Maria?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.