2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Palo Alto, CA vs Santa Maria, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Maria or is it cheaper to live in Palo Alto?
- Santa Maria is 33.0% less expensive than Palo Alto.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Maria or Palo Alto?
- Santa Maria housing costs are 85.2% less expensive than Palo Alto housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Palo Alto or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Maria.
- Health related expenses are 5.1% more in Santa Maria.
 Palo Alto, CASanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.7100
 Food & Groceries124.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock113.2100
 Housing1,139.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$565,100$338,100
 Utilities90  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock95.2100
 Miscellaneous156.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Palo Alto    8 Reviews

The Bay Area in general, but Palo Alto specifically provides many of the qualities sought by many; the climate is beautiful, there is access to cultural and recreational  More

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Over 17 years ago

Very  More

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Over 18 years ago

VTA and SamsTrans and Caltrain all provide good service and most times frequency of service is  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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