2026 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lubbock, TX vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Barbara or is it cheaper to live in Lubbock?
- Santa Barbara is 90.8% more expensive than Lubbock.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Barbara or Lubbock?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 727.6% more expensive than Lubbock housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lubbock or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Barbara.
- Health related expenses are 2.4% less in Santa Barbara.
 Lubbock, TXSanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.7100
 Food & Groceries91.9  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock113.2100
 Housing57.6  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,525,500$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock97.0100
 Miscellaneous104.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Lubbock    28 Reviews

Just wondering if anyone can give me some suggestions? I plan on retiring in Lubbock,Texas. I plan on renting. Where would be the best area for my family to live? What  More

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Sad to learn how dangerous this West Texas town has become. Completely, over taken with Down trodden people who have little. Burglaries happen hourly at a ridiculous  More

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I was born and raised in Lubbock. More or less,I spent about 30 years of my life there. I will start with the positive. It is a well established and well built city with  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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