City in California, United States
Cost of living in Santa Barbara
How much a month costs in Santa Barbara
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $5,000–7,000 ($5,000–7,000).
Prices in Santa Barbara
Typical 2026 ranges in USD, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | USD | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | $2,800–4,500 | $2,800–4,500 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | $2,200–3,500 | $2,200–3,500 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | $50–80 | $50–80 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | $200–400 | $200–400 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | $14–20 | $14–20 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | $35–65 | $35–65 |
| Cappuccino | $4–6 | $4–6 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | $7–10 | $7–10 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | $1–2 | $1–2 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | $12–22 | $12–22 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | $25–45 | $25–45 |
| Gym membership (month) | $40–100 | $40–100 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | $25–60 | $25–60 |
Value for money: 3/100
A value score of 3/100 means Santa Barbara gives more quality of life per dollar than 2% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 86/100. It's the 47th most affordable of 57 places we cover in United States.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across United States
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | $2,600–3,800 | 27/100 |
| Savannah | $3,000–4,400 | 19/100 |
| Portland | $3,000–4,500 | 16/100 |
| Orlando | $3,200–4,600 | 15/100 |
| Atlanta | $3,200–4,800 | 10/100 |
| Philadelphia | $3,300–4,800 | 8/100 |
| New Orleans | $3,400–4,800 | 9/100 |
| Las Vegas | $3,500–5,000 | 8/100 |
| Denver | $3,500–5,000 | 11/100 |
| Nashville | $3,700–5,200 | 10/100 |
| Austin | $3,800–5,400 | 8/100 |
| Charleston | $3,800–5,500 | 8/100 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $3,800–5,500 | 8/100 |
| Chicago | $4,000–5,800 | 4/100 |
| Sedona | $4,000–5,800 | 8/100 |
| Big Island | $4,200–6,200 | 5/100 |
| Honolulu | $4,400–6,200 | 6/100 |
| Washington, D.C. | $4,400–6,200 | 3/100 |
| Los Angeles | $4,500–6,500 | 3/100 |
| San Diego | $4,600–6,500 | 4/100 |
| Seattle | $4,600–6,600 | 2/100 |
| Maui | $4,600–6,600 | 5/100 |
| Miami | $4,800–6,800 | 2/100 |
| Boston | $4,800–6,800 | 3/100 |
| Key West | $5,000–7,000 | 4/100 |
| Santa Barbara | $5,000–7,000 | 3/100 |
| Kauai | $5,000–7,500 | 3/100 |
| Miami Beach | $5,200–7,400 | 2/100 |
| San Francisco | $5,600–7,800 | 1/100 |
| New York City | $5,800–8,000 | 1/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Santa Barbara
Similar safety, lower cost, in North America.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City | Canada | $2,110–2,950 |
| Ottawa | Canada | $2,460–3,370 |
| Niagara Falls | Canada | $2,250–3,090 |
| Victoria | Canada | $2,530–3,440 |
| Calgary | Canada | $2,460–3,370 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Santa Barbara?
About $3,000–3,900 on a lean budget, $5,000–7,000 for a comfortable month and $9,000–15,000 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Santa Barbara?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs $2,800–4,500 ($2,800–4,500) a month in the center and $2,200–3,500 ($2,200–3,500) outside it.
How much does food cost in Santa Barbara?
A local meal is $14–20 ($14–20); a mid-range restaurant is $35–65 ($35–65) per person.
Is United States expensive?
Prices in United States are about 100% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Santa Barbara
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Santa Barbara MTD
- Santa Barbara Airport
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
- Visit Santa Barbara
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.