Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Santa Barbara, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Santa Barbara, CA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 28.8% more expensive than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 19.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 52.8% more expensive than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 24.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.68 $29.68

$24.82 $24.82

19.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$100 $100

44.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.43 $12.43

$10.17 $10.17

22.22%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.62 $5.62

3.91%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$2.73 $2.73

19.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.1 $2.1

22.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.24 $8.24

$8.16 $8.16

0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.1 $9.1

30.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.3 $1.3

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.89 $4.89

6.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.11 $8.11

$4.83 $4.83

67.91%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$5.43 $5.43

33.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.08 $17.08

$12.51 $12.51

36.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$11.62 $11.62

39.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.02 $20.02

$14.26 $14.26

40.39%

Apples (1kg)

$7.49 $7.49

$6.24 $6.24

20.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.91 $1.91

33.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$3.84 $3.84

51.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.35 $5.35

21.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.31 $3.31

12.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.9 $3.9

$3.04 $3.04

28.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.18 $2.18

40.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.02 $2.02

27.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.21 $19.21

$13.02 $13.02

47.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.79 $17.79

$15.26 $15.26

16.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$1.76 $1.76

71.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.07 $4.07

-8.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.8 $1.8

62.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$65.2 $65.2

105.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$5.82 $5.82

-11.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$2 $2

7.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.57 $41.57

$50.9 $50.9

-18.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.22 $1.22

-22.13%

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

$35K $35K

$28.5K $28.5K

23.01%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

8.53%

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

$179 $179

$201 $201

-11.19%

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

$60 $60

$54.1 $54.1

10.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$72.4 $72.4

-11.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$66.1 $66.1

113.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

$18.29 $18.29

249.37%

Cinema Ticket

$19.9 $19.9

$12.64 $12.64

57.44%

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

$3,206 $3,206

$1,445 $1,445

121.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.5K $56.5K

$37.3K $37.3K

51.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 $65.7

$68.4 $68.4

-3.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.75 $48.75

$41.33 $41.33

17.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$77.7 $77.7

43.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$146 $146

17.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,165 $4,165

$2,643 $2,643

57.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,653 $2,653

$2,296 $2,296

15.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,412 $8,412

$5,146 $5,146

63.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,277 $5,277

$4,439 $4,439

18.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.6K $15.6K

$10.4K $10.4K

50.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.2K $11.2K

$9,888 $9,888

12.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,616 $5,616

$5,242 $5,242

7.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.68

-3.59%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Santa Barbara, CA: October 29, 2025

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