Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Barbara, CA and Newport Beach, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Barbara, CA and Newport Beach, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Barbara, CA is 15.2% more expensive than Newport Beach, CA without rent, and 26.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Barbara, CA is 16.4% cheaper than Newport Beach, CA without rent, and 13.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Barbara, CA
Newport Beach, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.82 $24.82
$25.4 $25.4
-2.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$102 $102
-1.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 $10.17
$11.98 $11.98
-15.11%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.39 $5.39
4.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.66 $2.66
2.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.12 $2.12
-0.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.16 $8.16
$6.88 $6.88
18.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.1 $9.1
$8.33 $8.33
9.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Barbara, CA
Newport Beach, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.3 $1.3
$1.24 $1.24
4.84%
White Bread (500g)
$4.89 $4.89
$5.67 $5.67
-13.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$4.01 $4.01
20.45%
Eggs
$5.43 $5.43
$5.24 $5.24
3.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.51 $12.51
$10.46 $10.46
19.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.62 $11.62
$8.89 $8.89
30.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.26 $14.26
$14.48 $14.48
-1.52%
Apples (1kg)
$6.24 $6.24
$3.5 $3.5
78.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.82 $1.82
4.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$3.96 $3.96
-3.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$5.43 $5.43
-1.47%
Potato (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.15 $3.15
5.08%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$3.05 $3.05
-0.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.38 $1.38
57.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.01 $2.01
0.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.02 $13.02
$9.44 $9.44
37.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.26 $15.26
$9.1 $9.1
67.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.75 $1.75
0.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07 $4.07
$4.5 $4.5
-9.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Barbara, CA
Newport Beach, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.8 $1.8
$1.53 $1.53
17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 $65.2
$94.1 $94.1
-30.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.82 $5.82
$3.93 $3.93
48.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2 $2
$2.73 $2.73
-26.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.9 $50.9
$32.41 $32.41
57.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.23 $1.23
-0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$24.1K $24.1K
18.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$23.8K $23.8K
7.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Barbara, CA
Newport Beach, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 $201
$201 $201
-0.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.1 $54.1
$54.8 $54.8
-1.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.4 $72.4
$71.2 $71.2
1.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Barbara, CA
Newport Beach, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.1 $66.1
$120 $120
-44.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.29 $18.29
$27.73 $27.73
-34.04%
Cinema Ticket
$12.64 $12.64
$13.72 $13.72
-7.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Barbara, CA
Newport Beach, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,445 $1,445
$1,772 $1,772
-18.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.3K $37.3K
$36.6K $36.6K
2.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Barbara, CA
Newport Beach, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 $68.4
$55.4 $55.4
23.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.33 $41.33
$34.4 $34.4
20.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 $77.7
$76.8 $76.8
1.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146 $146
$84.5 $84.5
72.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Barbara, CA
Newport Beach, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,643 $2,643
$4,153 $4,153
-36.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,296 $2,296
$3,709 $3,709
-38.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,146 $5,146
$7,069 $7,069
-27.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,439 $4,439
$5,791 $5,791
-23.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.4K $10.4K
$16K $16K
-35.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,888 $9,888
$15.9K $15.9K
-37.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Barbara, CA
Newport Beach, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,242 $5,242
$8,408 $8,408
-37.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.68
6.65
0.45%

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 Newport Beach, CA: October 28, 2025

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