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2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
San Diego, 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 San Diego?
- Santa Barbara is 0.1% less expensive than San Diego.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Barbara or San Diego?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 71.2% more expensive than San Diego housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Diego or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Barbara.
- Health related expenses are 27.2% more in Santa Barbara.
 San Diego, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Overall154.9154.7100
 Food & Groceries109.7113.8100
 Health89.0113.2100
 Housing278.4476.7100
 Median Home Cost$833,500$1,525,500$338,100
 Utilities10,280.0%9,020.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation120.297.0100
 Miscellaneous153.9142.5100

100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for San Diego    319 Reviews

I have lived in San Diego for more than half my life (I am 30) and love it. It has something for everyone and more from arts, to sporting events, and all cuisine is  More

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The only real knock again San Diego is the cost of living, but it is paradise compared to most cities of similar size. Those who complain about the traffic here or say  More

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I have lived in San Diego since 1968 and I am now almost 62 years old. I love San Diego, I really do. But it has become so crowded and so expensive over the years. It  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 3 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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ZIPS IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
92154, 92126, 92105, 92114, 92115, 92113, 92117, 92129, 92130, 92128, 38 total
ZIPS IN SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
93101 93105 93103 93110 93109

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