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

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

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or is it cheaper to live in Santa Barbara?
- San Francisco is 58.7% more expensive than Santa Barbara.

Which city has more affordable housing, San Francisco or Santa Barbara?
- San Francisco housing costs are 5.8% more expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Barbara or is Health Care more affordable in San Francisco.
- Health related expenses are 1.5% more in San Francisco.
 Santa Barbara, CASan Francisco, CAUnited States
 Overall154.7245.5100
 Food & Groceries113.8116.6100
 Health113.2114.9100
 Housing476.7504.4100
 Median Home Cost$1,525,500$1,237,600$338,100
 Utilities9,020.0%9,750.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation97.0158.2100
 Miscellaneous142.5162.1100

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 San Francisco    149 Reviews

from a single guy's perspective. let's start this review from 2017. I moved here to be near to my sister who also relocated, and also to attend Cal State East Bay in  More

   |    Reply

I've lived in San Francisco for ten years. I thought I would write a balanced review for people looking to move here. My family is from places like Boise, Atlanta,  More

   |    Reply

I've lived in San Francisco for ten years. I thought I would write a balanced review for people looking to move here. My family is from places like Boise, Atlanta,  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of San Francisco

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


ZIPS IN SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
93101 93105 93103 93110 93109
ZIPS IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
94112, 94110, 94122, 94109, 94116, 94121, 94117, 94134, 94118, 94115, 27 total

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