Uprootmap
Santa Maria vs San Francisco
Santa Maria and San Francisco
Photo: Daniel L. Lu / 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 San Francisco are under the US rate in this release, 5.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Santa Maria to San Francisco
In 2022-2023, 488 households filed a move from Santa Maria to San Francisco (about 606 people, average adjusted gross income $97,625). 429 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,323 in Santa Maria and $2,635 in San Francisco. Santa Maria has a state tax on wages. San Francisco has a state tax on wages. Local pay in San Francisco is 134% of the national level for the same work, against 88% in Santa Maria.
San Francisco averages 259 sunny days, with July highs around 68°F and January nights around 46°F. Santa Maria is 263 sunny days, 95°F in July, 40°F in January. Commutes average 32 minutes in San Francisco and 21 in Santa Maria.
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, 488 households moved Santa Maria → San Francisco (about 606 people, average AGI $97,625). 429 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 Santa Maria and San Francisco changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 307 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,050–$3,850
- Container or pod
- $1,400–$2,650
- Rent a truck
- $600–$1,100
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Dig into San Francisco
Questions
Is San Francisco cheaper than Santa Maria after tax and rent?
No. San Francisco leaves about $612 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,323 in Santa Maria and $2,635 in San Francisco.
Does San Francisco have state income tax?
San Francisco is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Santa Maria to San Francisco?
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.