2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Auburn, AL vs Santa Barbara, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Barbara or is it cheaper to live in Auburn?
- Santa Barbara is 68.3% more expensive than Auburn.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Barbara or Auburn?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 407.7% more expensive than Auburn housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Auburn or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Barbara.
- Health related expenses are 7.2% less in Santa Barbara.
 Auburn, ALSanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.7100
 Food & Groceries101.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock113.2100
 Housing93.9  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,525,500$338,100
 Utilities101  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock97.0100
 Miscellaneous87.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Auburn    16 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

Unless you’re a college student or under 30, dont move here cause there is nothing to do. I grew up here and the university used to bring in great concerts but these  More

   |    Reply

Went to Auburn University for 4 years and stayed living here for an additional year. First thing: if you aren’t in classes, dont care for college football, or don’t  More

   |    Reply

Over 15 years ago

Auburn is a very nice place to live and raise a family. Compared to New York where i'm from, living in Auburn is much cheaper. This is a college town so there isn't any  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Auburn

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

   |    Reply

Over 4 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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Barbara


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.