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2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Abilene, TX

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Abilene or is it cheaper to live in Santa Barbara?
- Abilene is 48.2% less expensive than Santa Barbara.

Which city has more affordable housing, Abilene or Santa Barbara?
- Abilene housing costs are 88.8% less expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Barbara or is Health Care more affordable in Abilene.
- Health related expenses are 3.0% more in Abilene.
 Santa Barbara, CAAbilene, TXUnited States
 Overall154.780.2100
 Food & Groceries113.891.9100
 Health113.2116.6100
 Housing476.753.4100
 Median Home Cost$1,525,500$173,400$338,100
 Utilities9,020.0%10,550.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation97.068.5100
 Miscellaneous142.599.2100

100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 3 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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Reviews for Abilene    17 Reviews

I've lived in 9 states, traveled over much of the U.S., and Abilene TEXAS is by far the best city I've ever lived. I find it beautiful here, love the climate and low  More

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Over 4 years ago

We moved to Abilene for a military assignment and have never got out of here. We stayed initially for children and grandchildren then elderly parents. Now we can't  More

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I've lived in Abilene for the last 45 years and It's the best place to raise a family. Great churches, schools, jobs and sense of community. There is always something  More

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ZIPS IN SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
93101 93105 93103 93110 93109
ZIPS IN ABILENE, TEXAS
79605 79601 79602 79606 79603 79607 79699

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