2026 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Hermosa Beach, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Barbara or is it cheaper to live in Hermosa Beach?
- Santa Barbara is 4.3% less expensive than Hermosa Beach.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Barbara or Hermosa Beach?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 32.2% less expensive than Hermosa Beach housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Hermosa Beach or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Barbara.
- Health related expenses are 25.5% more in Santa Barbara.
 Hermosa Beach, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.7100
 Food & Groceries112.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock113.2100
 Housing703.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,525,500$338,100
 Utilities89  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock97.0100
 Miscellaneous133.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Hermosa Beach    9 Reviews

Homes for sale in this beautiful city are in the $1million + range and go up to $16 million for a home on The Strand. So much good to say about Hermosa Beach. Please  More

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Over 13 years ago

Wonderful place to live for mild weather, entertainment, and clean  More

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The weather is perfect, the people are very kind, there is virtually no crime, so many things to do no matter what your interests, everyone is fit and active, great  More

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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 5 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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