City comparison
Santa Maria, CA vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Santa Maria, CA are 19.5% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $119,500 in Santa Maria, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,746 a month in Santa Maria, CA versus $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC. On $100,000, that's 44% of take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA and 17% in Spartanburg, SC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $5,070 a year in CA and $4,843 in SC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −14.2% moving from Santa Maria, CA to Spartanburg, SC ($124,085 → $106,437), while prices change by −16.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.5% in real buying power.
- Santa Maria, CA: price level 108.8 (much pricier)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Santa Maria, CA | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.8 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $83,688 in Spartanburg | $119,491 in Santa Maria |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,746/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 44% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,690 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Santa Maria | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 151.4 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 149.8 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 108.8 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Santa Maria, CA → Spartanburg, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +19.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$228/yr.
100 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Santa Maria, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −16.3%; rent takes 44% of take-home; state tax +$228/yr.
8 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Santa Maria, CA is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA pay area; Spartanburg, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Santa Maria, CA to Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Santa Maria, CA | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Santa Maria → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,957 | $61,722 | +2.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $87,061 | $74,678 | +2.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $104,349 | $89,508 | +2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $124,085 | $106,437 | +2.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $146,632 | $125,776 | +2.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Santa Maria, CA | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Santa Maria dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,030 | $60,990 | $72,878 (−27.9%) |
| Software Developers | $158,290 | $114,460 | $136,770 (−13.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $91,610 | $77,080 | $92,104 (+0.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $137,360 | $82,360 | $98,413 (−28.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.