Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentonville, AR and Santa Maria, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentonville, AR and Santa Maria, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,478 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $3,269 in Santa Maria, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,668 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $4,426 in Santa Maria, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,858 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $5,583 in Santa Maria, CA, rent included.

Bentonville, AR is about 24% cheaper than Santa Maria, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bentonville, AR and Santa Maria, CA sit above the global median – Bentonville, AR by 85%, Santa Maria, CA by 144%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.64 $21.64

$20.17 $20.17

7.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.8 $85.8

$70.0 $70.0

22.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 $10.78

$11.52 $11.52

-6.42%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$4.87 $4.87

10.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.44 $2.44

10.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.08 $2.08

5.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.83 $5.83

4.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.52 $6.52

$8.05 $8.05

-19.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.97 $0.97

11.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.85 $2.85

14.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$4.94 $4.94

-39.27%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$3.58 $3.58

35.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.29 $10.29

-3.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.47 $16.47

$8.63 $8.63

90.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.37 $16.37

$17.30 $17.30

-5.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$3.85 $3.85

16.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.63 $1.63

-17.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.58 $3.58

-19.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.36 $3.36

-20.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.98 $2.98

-19.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.04 $2.04

29.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.70 $1.70

10.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.32 $1.32

46.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.28 $10.28

$11.08 $11.08

-7.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$14.73 $14.73

-17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.76 $1.76

-7.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.39 $3.39

-35.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.03 $2.03

-2.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.37 $3.37

-27.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.90 $1.90

-22.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.10 $24.10

$25.22 $25.22

-4.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.23 $1.23

-36.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.7K $23.7K

$36.0K $36.0K

-34.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.9K $29.9K

-13.09%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$197 $197

$167 $167

18.10%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.02 $48.02

$49.54 $49.54

-3.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$84.2 $84.2

-20.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.70 $25.70

$43.33 $43.33

-40.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.01 $5.01

Cinema Ticket

$12.43 $12.43

$14.40 $14.40

-13.68%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,047 $1,047

$981 $981

6.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.7K $18.7K

$13.2K $13.2K

41.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.68 $46.68

$56.1 $56.1

-16.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.77 $39.77

$39.82 $39.82

-0.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 $68.0

$73.8 $73.8

-7.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.6 $69.6

$78.8 $78.8

-11.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,708 $1,708

$2,199 $2,199

-22.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,279 $1,279

$2,043 $2,043

-37.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,999 $2,999

$3,356 $3,356

-10.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 $2,078

$3,114 $3,114

-33.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,872 $3,872

$8,519 $8,519

-54.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,348 $2,348

$8,609 $8,609

-72.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,724 $5,724

$4,147 $4,147

38.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.51

0.77%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bentonville, AR: June 1, 2026

Last update for Santa Maria, CA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Bentonville, AR versus $2,199 in Santa Maria, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 38% higher in Bentonville, AR, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Bentonville, AR versus $70.0 in Santa Maria, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $339 – making Santa Maria, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bentonville, AR vs Santa Maria, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,478 in Bentonville, AR, $3,269 in Santa Maria, CA – roughly 32% apart. Santa Maria, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,717 per month in Bentonville, AR and $4,904 in Santa Maria, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bentonville, AR, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,478 in Bentonville, AR and $3,269 in Santa Maria, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,047 per month in Bentonville, AR and $981 in Santa Maria, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,478 in Bentonville, AR and $3,269 in Santa Maria, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Bentonville, AR – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bentonville, AR. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Maria, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.