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2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Carmel-by-the-Sea or is it cheaper to live in Santa Barbara?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea is 1.8% less expensive than Santa Barbara.

Which city has more affordable housing, Carmel-by-the-Sea or Santa Barbara?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea housing costs are 36.7% more expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Barbara or is Health Care more affordable in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- Health related expenses are 26.9% more in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
 Santa Barbara, CACarmel-by-the-Sea, CAUnited States
 Overall154.7151.9100
 Food & Groceries113.8118.8100
 Health113.2143.7100
 Housing476.7651.7100
 Median Home Cost$1,525,500$1,916,200$338,100
 Utilities9,020.0%8,680.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation97.0103.7100
 Miscellaneous142.5112.1100

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 Carmel-By-The-Sea    3 Reviews

Over 8 years ago

Climate, cost &  More

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carmel has about 60 vacation homes and a dense cottage-y downtown. basically it is a tourist trap cental business district and a bunch of vacation rental homes. the  More

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Over 16 years ago

Liberals have run me out of town. The political is so overwhelming I am looking to relocate. However, if you are an aging hippie with a great deal of money you will be  More

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ZIPS IN SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
93101 93105 93103 93110 93109
ZIPS IN CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CALIFORNIA
93923 93921

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