2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Boulder, CO vs Santa Maria, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Maria or is it cheaper to live in Boulder?
- Santa Maria is 9.5% more expensive than Boulder.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Maria or Boulder?
- Santa Maria housing costs are 47.9% less expensive than Boulder housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Boulder or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Maria.
- Health related expenses are 32.4% more in Santa Maria.
 Boulder, COSanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.7100
 Food & Groceries106.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock113.2100
 Housing322.6  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$565,100$338,100
 Utilities93  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock95.2100
 Miscellaneous154.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Boulder    55 Reviews

Outside of the university, Boulder had a very distinctive "wealthy hippy" feel. A lot of alternative medicine and a matching ethos. This is changing some among my  More

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We moved here from Texas about 4 years ago and love it here! The amazing sense of community and high regard for the environment are two of the main reasons we love  More

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Over 5 years ago

Most people do much worse than Boulder. I'm the most critical person I've ever met who is never happy or satisfied -- so that's a pretty huge compliment.   More

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Reviews for Santa Maria    12 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

I live in Orcutt which is a town of around 35,000 on the south side of Santa Maria. Santa Maria has, as everyone has noted, the best climate in the world. It never  More

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I have lived in Santa Maria / Orcutt for several years, but it is time to leave. I have no issues with the weather. Our climate is mild and comfortable with no extremes.  More

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The weather is very mild without a huge temperature change with the seasons. The winters are chilly but not cold and the summers are warm but not hot. Of course there  More

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