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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,198 per month in Santa Maria, CA vs $2,452 in Bentonville, AR, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,367 per month in Santa Maria, CA vs $3,601 in Bentonville, AR, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,536 per month in Santa Maria, CA vs $4,751 in Bentonville, AR, rent included.

Santa Maria, CA costs about 30% more than Bentonville, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Santa Maria, CA and Bentonville, AR sit above the global median – Santa Maria, CA by 139%, Bentonville, AR by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.62 $19.62

$21.65 $21.65

-9.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.4 $70.4

$84.4 $84.4

-16.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.57 $11.57

$10.82 $10.82

6.93%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$5.43 $5.43

-8.47%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$2.63 $2.63

-4.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.22 $2.22

-10.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.99 $5.99

-0.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$6.67 $6.67

17.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.11 $1.11

-10.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.15 $3.15

-13.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.07 $3.07

58.31%

Eggs

$3.47 $3.47

$4.65 $4.65

-25.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 $10.08

$9.54 $9.54

5.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 $8.25

$16.42 $16.42

-49.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.00 $17.00

$16.57 $16.57

2.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$4.55 $4.55

-18.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.29 $1.29

31.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.92 $2.92

18.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.74 $2.74

22.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.28 $2.28

28.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.70 $2.70

-21.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.91 $1.91

-7.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.97 $1.97

-30.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.96 $10.96

$10.13 $10.13

8.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$11.94 $11.94

27.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.67 $1.67

4.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.16 $2.16

56.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.02 $2.02

0.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.45 $2.45

37.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.46 $1.46

23.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.87 $24.87

$24.03 $24.03

3.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.78 $0.78

58.97%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

50.85%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$26.5K $26.5K

12.12%

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

$167 $167

$193 $193

-13.36%

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

$49.67 $49.67

$47.84 $47.84

3.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.1 $84.1

$65.3 $65.3

28.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.26 $42.26

$25.26 $25.26

67.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.03 $5.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.67 $14.67

$12.55 $12.55

16.89%

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

$971 $971

$1,046 $1,046

-7.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K $13.2K

$18.7K $18.7K

-29.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 $55.3

$47.20 $47.20

17.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.59 $40.59

$39.72 $39.72

2.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.3 $71.3

$69.4 $69.4

2.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 $78.7

$69.2 $69.2

13.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,232 $2,232

$1,666 $1,666

33.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,025 $2,025

$1,240 $1,240

63.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,331 $3,331

$3,034 $3,034

9.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,075 $3,075

$2,085 $2,085

47.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,476 $8,476

$3,943 $3,943

114.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,475 $8,475

$2,369 $2,369

257.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,198 $4,198

$5,763 $5,763

-27.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.56

-0.76%

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

Last update for Santa Maria, CA: July 14, 2026

Last update for Bentonville, AR: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,232 in Santa Maria, CA versus $1,666 in Bentonville, AR. 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 37% 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 $70.0 in Santa Maria, CA versus $84.0 in Bentonville, AR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $370 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,198 in Santa Maria, CA, $2,452 in Bentonville, AR – roughly 30% apart. Santa Maria, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,797 per month in Santa Maria, CA and $3,677 in Bentonville, AR. 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 $3,198 in Santa Maria, CA and $2,452 in Bentonville, AR. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $971 per month in Santa Maria, CA and $1,046 in Bentonville, AR. 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 $3,198 in Santa Maria, CA and $2,452 in Bentonville, AR. 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.