2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Boulder Creek, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Boulder Creek or is it cheaper to live in Santa Barbara?
- Boulder Creek is 20.2% more expensive than Santa Barbara.

Which city has more affordable housing, Boulder Creek or Santa Barbara?
- Boulder Creek housing costs are 44.9% less expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Barbara or is Health Care more affordable in Boulder Creek.
- Health related expenses are 3.5% less in Boulder Creek.
 Santa Barbara, CABoulder Creek, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries113.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing476.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$749,200$338,100
 Utilities90  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock133.4100
 Miscellaneous142.5  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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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 4 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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Reviews for Boulder Creek    3 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

even with Prop 13 property taxes are high. My taxes have incresed from $1200 a year in 1990 to over $8000 a year now. Coffee is $1.50 a cup. Milk $3.50 a  More

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A wonderful place if you love the forest. Plenty of activities, camping,hiking,fishing and mountain dining. Very close to Santa Cruz beaches, restaurants, entertainment  More

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Over 18 years ago

Boulder Creek, CA is in the Santa Cruz mountains near San Jose, CA. It is a beautiful, woodsy mountain area with wonderful climate. It's hard to believe that the overly  More

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