Home / Select Cities  /  2024 Comparing Santa Barbara, CA vs. Irvine, CA

2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Irvine, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Irvine or is it cheaper to live in Santa Barbara?
- Irvine is 6.6% more expensive than Santa Barbara.

Which city has more affordable housing, Irvine or Santa Barbara?
- Irvine housing costs are 25.9% less expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Barbara or is Health Care more affordable in Irvine.
- Health related expenses are 17.5% less in Irvine.
 Santa Barbara, CAIrvine, CAUnited States
 Overall154.7164.9100
 Food & Groceries113.8105.6100
 Health113.293.4100
 Housing476.7353.4100
 Median Home Cost$1,525,500$1,128,000$338,100
 Utilities9,020.0%9,830.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation97.0111.0100
 Miscellaneous142.5155.8100

100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

View More Data >

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Barbara

Reviews for Irvine    42 Reviews

We've lived in Irvine since '87. We have raised two children within the ISUD. Both are grown up. Sure, there have been many changes since then.. the City has  More

   |    Reply

I've lived in Irvine for 2 years and in Orange County for 10 so I'm pretty familiar with the area by now and all it has to offer. Perhaps my review of this place has  More

   |    Reply

I wouldn't live elsewhere. I originally moved to Irvine in 2002 from the Midwest, not knowing what it even was. I left and moved around a great deal locally in OC,  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Irvine

 Most Recent Searches On Compare Cities
COMPARE COST OF LIVING
Compare Santa Barbara, California Cost of Living vs Irvine, California Cost of Living: Taxes, Childcare, Groceries, Health...
Compare Now


ZIPS IN SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
93101 93105 93103 93110 93109
ZIPS IN IRVINE, CALIFORNIA
92620 92618 92612 92604 92602 92614 92606 92603 92617

PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION

Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.

Try Now