2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Manhattan Beach, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Manhattan Beach or is it cheaper to live in Santa Barbara?
- Manhattan Beach is 4.5% more expensive than Santa Barbara.

Which city has more affordable housing, Manhattan Beach or Santa Barbara?
- Manhattan Beach housing costs are 104.4% more expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Barbara or is Health Care more affordable in Manhattan Beach.
- Health related expenses are 20.3% less in Manhattan Beach.
 Santa Barbara, CAManhattan Beach, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock161.7100
 Food & Groceries113.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock90.2100
 Housing476.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$2,880,400$338,100
 Utilities90  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock156.5100
 Miscellaneous142.5  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

   |    Reply

Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

   |    Reply

If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Barbara

Reviews for Manhattan Beach    6 Reviews

If heaven would have a proper name, Manhattan Beach is what it would be called. Not far fro LAX in Los Angeles lies this beautiful hamlet that I want to live. Want to  More

   |    Reply

It doesn't get any better than Manhattan Beach. However, homes are expensive. If you are in the $1 million + range this is the place: Warm weather all year, low  More

   |    Reply

HowEVERR, it IS - highly priced Housing-wise (thank goodness I bought MY house in '99!!) - Im a REALTOR, watching my personal home-value drop from 3 TIMES purchase  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Manhattan Beach


Learn More About Manhattan Beach, California
Overview
Cost of Living
Job Market
Crime
Climate
Economy
Religion
Voting
Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.