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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Barbara, CA is 22.3% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 16.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Barbara, CA is 34.5% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 19.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.82 $24.82

$29.68 $29.68

-16.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$144 $144

-30.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 $10.17

$12.43 $12.43

-18.18%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$5.84 $5.84

-3.77%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$3.26 $3.26

-16.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.58 $2.58

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.16 $8.16

$8.24 $8.24

-0.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.1 $9.1

$11.86 $11.86

-23.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.3 $1.3

$1.56 $1.56

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.89 $4.89

$5.23 $5.23

-6.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$8.11 $8.11

-40.44%

Eggs

$5.43 $5.43

$7.25 $7.25

-25.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.51 $12.51

$17.08 $17.08

-26.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.62 $11.62

$16.24 $16.24

-28.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.26 $14.26

$20.02 $20.02

-28.77%

Apples (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$7.49 $7.49

-16.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.55 $2.55

-25.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$5.82 $5.82

-34.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$6.52 $6.52

-17.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.72 $3.72

-11.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.9 $3.9

-22.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.07 $3.07

-28.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.57 $2.57

-21.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.02 $13.02

$19.21 $19.21

-32.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$17.79 $17.79

-14.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$3.01 $3.01

-41.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.72 $3.72

9.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.8 $1.8

$2.92 $2.92

-38.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.2 $65.2

$134 $134

-51.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.82 $5.82

$5.13 $5.13

13.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2 $2

$2.15 $2.15

-6.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.9 $50.9

$41.57 $41.57

22.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.95 $0.95

28.42%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$35K $35K

-18.71%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$27.7K $27.7K

-7.86%

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

$201 $201

$179 $179

12.59%

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

$54.1 $54.1

$60 $60

-9.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$63.8 $63.8

13.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.1 $66.1

$141 $141

-53.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.29 $18.29

$63.9 $63.9

-71.38%

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 $12.64

$19.9 $19.9

-36.48%

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

$1,445 $1,445

$3,206 $3,206

-54.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.3K $37.3K

$56.5K $56.5K

-33.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.4 $68.4

$65.7 $65.7

4.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.33 $41.33

$48.75 $48.75

-15.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 $77.7

$111 $111

-30.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$172 $172

-15.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,643 $2,643

$4,165 $4,165

-36.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,296 $2,296

$2,653 $2,653

-13.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,146 $5,146

$8,412 $8,412

-38.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,439 $4,439

$5,277 $5,277

-15.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K $10.4K

$15.6K $15.6K

-33.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,888 $9,888

$11.2K $11.2K

-11.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,242 $5,242

$5,616 $5,616

-6.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

6.44

3.73%

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

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

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

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