2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Cathedral City, CA vs Santa Maria, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Maria or is it cheaper to live in Cathedral City?
- Santa Maria is 17.9% more expensive than Cathedral City.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Maria or Cathedral City?
- Santa Maria housing costs are 16.4% more expensive than Cathedral City housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Cathedral City or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Maria.
- Health related expenses are 29.7% more in Santa Maria.
 Cathedral City, CASanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.7100
 Food & Groceries98.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock113.2100
 Housing144.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$565,100$338,100
 Utilities113  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock95.2100
 Miscellaneous112.1  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 Cathedral City    3 Reviews

Cathedral City is cheaper than Palm Springs and a few other local cities. It has lovely mountain views. It's a decidely middle-middle class community, especially on  More

   |    Reply

Cathedral City enjoys the lowest crime rate in the entire Coachella  More

   |    Reply

Relatively because it depends on where you came from. We moved here from Denver. There's been one murder here this year. I feel rather safe in this area as far as  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Cathedral City

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Maria


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.