City comparison
Santa Maria, CA vs Spokane, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Santa Maria, CA are 8.4% higher than in Spokane, WA. Someone earning $100,000 in Spokane, WA would need about $108,400 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 $1,193 in Spokane, WA. On $100,000, that's 44% of take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA and 18% in Spokane, WA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in Santa Maria, CA than in Spokane, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −13.8% moving from Santa Maria, CA to Spokane, WA ($124,085 → $106,991), while prices change by −7.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.5% in real buying power.
- Santa Maria, CA: price level 108.8 (much pricier)
- Spokane, WA: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Santa Maria, CA | Spokane, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.8 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,231 in Spokane | $108,423 in Santa Maria |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,746/mo | $1,193/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 44% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,690 | $54,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID |
Rent areas: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA and Spokane, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Santa Maria | Spokane |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 151.4 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 149.8 | 91.2 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 108.8 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Santa Maria, CA → Spokane, WA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
95 Strong offer
Spokane, WA → Santa Maria, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.8%; rent takes 44% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
15 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Santa Maria, CA is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA pay area; Spokane, WA is in Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID. The last column shows what a transfer from Santa Maria, CA to Spokane, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Santa Maria, CA | Spokane, WA | Real change, Santa Maria → Spokane |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,957 | $62,044 | −6.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $87,061 | $75,068 | −6.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $104,349 | $89,974 | −6.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $124,085 | $106,991 | −6.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $146,632 | $126,432 | −6.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Santa Maria, CA | Spokane, WA | Spokane pay in Santa Maria dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,030 | $98,800 | $107,122 (+6.0%) |
| Software Developers | $158,290 | $130,690 | $141,698 (−10.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $91,610 | $86,350 | $93,623 (+2.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $137,360 | $111,750 | $121,163 (−11.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.