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Chicago · Registered nurse · $98,500 · One adult, renting a 1-bedroom
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San Luis Obispo skyline
AlmanacHobbyist. CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo source · License
Santa Maria skyline
Zairon. CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo source · License

Moving from San Luis Obispo to Santa Maria

Moving from San Luis Obispo to Santa Maria: −$337/mo after tax & rent

Alabama: $2,168 left in a typical monthArizona: $2,126 left in a typical monthArkansas: $2,400 left in a typical monthCalifornia: $1,645 left in a typical monthColorado: $2,458 left in a typical monthConnecticut: $2,294 left in a typical monthDelaware: $1,980 left in a typical monthDistrict of Columbia: $2,913 left in a typical monthFlorida: $2,204 left in a typical monthGeorgia: $1,988 left in a typical monthIdaho: $2,056 left in a typical monthIllinois: $2,569 left in a typical monthIndiana: $2,407 left in a typical monthIowa: $2,838 left in a typical monthKansas: $2,391 left in a typical monthKentucky: $2,312 left in a typical monthLouisiana: $2,486 left in a typical monthMaine: $1,949 left in a typical monthMaryland: $2,359 left in a typical monthMassachusetts: $2,076 left in a typical monthMichigan: $2,360 left in a typical monthMinnesota: $2,600 left in a typical monthMississippi: $2,011 left in a typical monthMissouri: $2,581 left in a typical monthMontana: $2,222 left in a typical monthNebraska: $2,541 left in a typical monthNevada: $2,296 left in a typical monthNew Hampshire: $2,794 left in a typical monthNew Jersey: $1,864 left in a typical monthNew Mexico: $2,037 left in a typical monthNew York: $2,320 left in a typical monthNorth Carolina: $2,194 left in a typical monthNorth Dakota: $3,238 left in a typical monthOhio: $2,583 left in a typical monthOklahoma: $2,455 left in a typical monthOregon: $1,624 left in a typical monthPennsylvania: $2,380 left in a typical monthRhode Island: $2,094 left in a typical monthSouth Carolina: $2,108 left in a typical monthSouth Dakota: $2,780 left in a typical monthTennessee: $2,530 left in a typical monthTexas: $2,620 left in a typical monthUtah: $1,822 left in a typical monthVermont: $2,118 left in a typical monthVirginia: $2,326 left in a typical monthWashington: $2,473 left in a typical monthWest Virginia: $2,277 left in a typical monthWisconsin: $2,642 left in a typical monthWyoming: $2,849 left in a typical month
Less leftMore left

San Luis ObispoSanta MariaAbout 63 miles apart, close enough to drive.

  • Santa Maria costs you more
  • Rent over 30% of pay
  • 263 sunny days

$751/mo in Santa Maria. $1,088/mo in San Luis Obispo. −$4,044 a year.

San Luis Obispo

$1,088

left each month

Santa Maria

$751

−$337 vs San Luis Obispo

Full comparison
Santa Maria wins 1 of 4San Luis Obispo 3 · ties 0
$5,227Take-home · San Luis Obispo$5,189
$2,013Rent · San Luis Obispo$2,323
$2,126Other bills · Santa Maria$2,115
$1,088Left over · San Luis Obispo$751

Next

Leftover vs a cost index

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 722 households moved San Luis Obispo → Santa Maria (about 1,244 people, average AGI $72,150). 840 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

See full breakdown
Per monthSan Luis ObispoSanta Maria
Take-home$5,227$5,189
Rent$2,013$2,323
All other costs$2,126$2,115
Left over$1,088$751

Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.

What the move itself costs

About 76 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,600–$3,000
Container or pod
$1,050–$2,000
Rent a truck
$400–$700

Movers in Santa Maria and how to hire one →

Explore more

Other moves from San Luis Obispo

Dig into Santa Maria

Moving from California

Questions

Is Santa Maria cheaper than San Luis Obispo after tax and rent?

For one adult in a one-bedroom, Santa Maria leaves about $337 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $2,013 in San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo 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.