Cost of Living in Santa Barbara - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $848 (excluding rent), and $1,558 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,153 (excluding rent), and $3,107 including rent.
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75 ₡5,381
$6.84 ₡3,424
$21.5 ₡10.8K
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡29.4K
$39.09 ₡19.6K
$97.7 ₡48.9K
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.04 ₡5,027
$10.04 ₡5,027
$12.04 ₡6,027
Cappuccino
$3.82 ₡1,912
$1.99 ₡996
$6.92 ₡3,466
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 ₡984
$1.52 ₡760
$2.9 ₡1,451
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₡822
$1.21 ₡604
$2.02 ₡1,009
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,518
$2.02 ₡1,014
$5.06 ₡2,531
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78 ₡2,392
$3.05 ₡1,526
$6.11 ₡3,058
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$2.07 ₡1,035
$1.53 ₡767
$2.86 ₡1,432
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 ₡1,444
$1.26 ₡633
$4.47 ₡2,236
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 ₡1,078
$1.76 ₡882
$3.92 ₡1,960
Eggs
$2.98 ₡1,492
$2 ₡1,003
$4.01 ₡2,006
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.72 ₡4,365
$3.88 ₡1,941
$19.38 ₡9,701
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.21 ₡4,612
$5.02 ₡2,514
$11.05 ₡5,533
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.65 ₡6,834
$10.13 ₡5,069
$16.89 ₡8,453
Apples (1kg)
$4.41 ₡2,210
$2.73 ₡1,365
$6.83 ₡3,418
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 ₡655
$0.61 ₡305
$2.42 ₡1,213
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₡1,182
$1.97 ₡984
$5.9 ₡2,953
Tomato (1kg)
$3.45 ₡1,726
$1.96 ₡981
$7.84 ₡3,925
Potato (1kg)
$2.89 ₡1,449
$1.85 ₡928
$6.76 ₡3,383
Onion (1kg)
$2.9 ₡1,453
$1.94 ₡970
$4.43 ₡2,218
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ₡355
$0.71 ₡355
$1 ₡503
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,406
$2.13 ₡1,069
$3.88 ₡1,942
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.3 ₡2,654
$4 ₡2,004
$5.6 ₡2,805
Wine (Bottle)
$11.85 ₡5,930
$11.85 ₡5,930
$29.63 ₡14.8K
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 ₡1,256
$1.7 ₡849
$3.06 ₡1,531
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ₡1,414
$2.04 ₡1,020
$5.48 ₡2,744
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ₡439
$0.71 ₡355
$1.02 ₡510
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡943
$1.43 ₡716
$2.05 ₡1,026
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.96 ₡481
$0.96 ₡481
$2.3 ₡1,151
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.05 ₡4,030
$7.21 ₡3,611
$9.13 ₡4,571
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ₡722
$1.33 ₡666
$2.01 ₡1,005
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K ₡18.8M
$36.4K ₡18.2M
$39.7K ₡19.9M
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K ₡16.6M
$33.1K ₡16.6M
$35.4K ₡17.7M
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Monthly) (85m2)
$67.2 ₡33.7K
$59.3 ₡29.7K
$129 ₡64.3K
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.61 ₡12.8K
$19.66 ₡9,840
$49.15 ₡24.6K
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9 ₡29.5K
$39.28 ₡19.7K
$82.5 ₡41.3K
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.1K
$39.33 ₡19.7K
$78.7 ₡39.4K
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 ₡11.8K
$7.88 ₡3,947
$23.64 ₡11.8K
Cinema Ticket
$8.71 ₡4,362
$7.75 ₡3,879
$14.52 ₡7,271
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$573 ₡286.9K
$401 ₡200.8K
$932 ₡466.8K
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡6.4M
$10K ₡5M
$19.6K ₡9.8M
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.5 ₡30.8K
$39.18 ₡19.6K
$118 ₡58.8K
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.7 ₡25.9K
$40.16 ₡20.1K
$79.9 ₡40K
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 ₡63.8K
$90.6 ₡45.3K
$191 ₡95.7K
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$49.67 ₡24.9K
$159 ₡79.6K
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$815 ₡408.2K
$530 ₡265.4K
$1,280 ₡640.6K
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$598 ₡299.3K
$359 ₡179.6K
$797 ₡399K
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,510 ₡755.9K
$892 ₡446.8K
$1,785 ₡893.8K
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$949 ₡474.9K
$588 ₡294.1K
$1,182 ₡591.5K
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,692 ₡846.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,658 ₡830.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
8
15
Citycost data is based on AI and user input — minor inaccuracies may occur.
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