2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Buffalo Grove, IL

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo Grove or is it cheaper to live in Santa Barbara?
- Buffalo Grove is 37.3% less expensive than Santa Barbara.

Which city has more affordable housing, Buffalo Grove or Santa Barbara?
- Buffalo Grove housing costs are 75.7% less expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Barbara or is Health Care more affordable in Buffalo Grove.
- Health related expenses are 14.9% less in Buffalo Grove.
 Santa Barbara, CABuffalo Grove, ILUnited States
 Overall  Unlock97.0100
 Food & Groceries113.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock96.3100
 Housing476.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$334,600$338,100
 Utilities90  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock92.6100
 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 Buffalo Grove    7 Reviews

Over 11 years ago

Numerous forest preserve areas with walking paths and places to play sports (baseball, soccer, football). Close driving distance to Lake Michigan and several  More

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nice town to raise a  More

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Over 17 years ago

No place is perfect however BG is at or near the top especially in schooling and crime prevention. Numerous parks and biking paths. A great place to raise a family safe  More

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