| Index | Mesa | Santa Barbara | California |
| Cost of living | 196 | 221 | 140 |
| Goods & Services | 105 | 105 | 111 |
| Groceries | 107 | 107 | 112 |
| Health care | 93 | 93 | 109 |
| Housing | 386 | 469 | 196 |
| Transportation | 127 | 127 | 126 |
| Utilities | 157 | 157 | 127 |
| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Household | $102,568 | $8,547 | $2,393 | $3,077 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| Item | Santa Barbara | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $26.25 | $24.26 | 8.2% |
| Beauty Salon | $89.33 | $45.56 | 96.1% |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.70 | 1.3% |
| Shampoo | $1.48 | $1.28 | 15.6% |
| Movie | $18.12 | $12.13 | 49.4% |
| Bowling | $22.67 | $18.00 | 25.9% |
| Item | Santa Barbara | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $5.77 | $5.84 | 1.1% |
| Fried Chicken | $2.63 | $1.57 | 67.0% |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 | 5.0% |
| Potatoes | $4.90 | $4.93 | 0.6% |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 | 11.6% |
| Beer | $11.13 | $10.41 | 6.9% |
| Item | Santa Barbara | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $142.20 | $125.68 | 13.1% |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 | 3.3% |
| Dentist | $131.50 | $113.29 | 16.1% |
| Ibuprofen | $11.78 | $10.65 | 10.6% |
| Lipitor | $508.17 | $468.60 | 8.4% |
| Item | Santa Barbara | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $1,082,300.00 | $184,700.00 | 486.0% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $5,847.37 | $2,346.69 | 149.2% |
| Apartment Rent | $1,874.00 | $949.00 | 97.5% |
| Item | Santa Barbara | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 | 33.6% |
| Tire Balancing | $61.00 | $59.92 | 1.8% |
| Item | Santa Barbara | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $231.40 | $193.99 | 19.3% |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 | 0.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Isla Vista, CA | 15,733 | 133 | 33.0% |
| Carpinteria, CA | 13,449 | 181 | 80.6% |
| Goleta, CA | 32,142 | 191 | 91.5% |
| Mission Canyon, CA | 2,649 | 244 | 143.8% |
| Montecito, CA | 8,210 | 330 | 230.2% |
| Santa Barbara, CA | 90,911 | 221 | 121.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Westminster, CA | 90,857 | 164 | 64.4% |
| Bellingham, WA | 90,821 | 138 | 37.6% |
| Kirkland, WA | 91,146 | 183 | 83.4% |
| San Leandro, CA | 90,489 | 172 | 71.8% |
| Carson, CA | 91,354 | 152 | 52.1% |
| Santa Barbara, CA | 90,911 | 221 | 121.3% |
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