Travel budget and cost of living in Santa Barbara (California) how much does a trip cost?

Santa Barbara travel budget

Santa Barbara: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Santa Barbara

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Santa Barbara for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Santa Barbara compared to United States in 2024

On average, the cost of living in Santa Barbara in 2024 is 23% higher than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Santa Barbara in 2024 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Santa Barbara by expense type

Restaurant budget in Santa Barbara

Lunch

$ 26/person
($ 12 to $ 52)

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27% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 48/person
($ 38 to $ 72)

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27% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

McDonald's meal

$ 13/person
($ 12 to $ 16)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 5 for 500ml
($ 3 to $ 9.2)

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15% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 4 for 330ml
($ 3 to $ 7)

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15% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Cappuccino

$ 5.5/cup
($ 5 to $ 7.6)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 2.5/can
($ 2 to $ 4)

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3% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 2/bottle
($ 2 to $ 3)

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1% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Hotel and accommodation budget in Santa Barbara

1-star hotel

$ 233/night
($ 98 to $ 873)

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29% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 181

2-star hotel

$ 209/night
($ 73 to $ 683)

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29% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 163

3-star hotel

$ 300/night
($ 134 to $ 624)

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26% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 239

4-star hotel

$ 477/night
($ 211 to $ 1215)

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49% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 322

5-star hotel

$ 985/night
($ 363 to $ 1963)

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103% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 486

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 267/month
($ 112 to $ 1028)

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56% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 172

Room with kitchen

$ 374/month
($ 122 to $ 1152)

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49% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 253

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 304/month
($ 75 to $ 1328)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 219

Cottage or guest house

$ 378/month
($ 185 to $ 889)

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62% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 234

Family room

$ 311/month
($ 77 to $ 1438)

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42% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 220

Supermarket food budget in Santa Barbara

Milk

$ 1/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 1.5)

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3% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Bread

$ 3.7/500g
($ 2.8 to $ 5.6)

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2% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 5/kg
($ 2.1 to $ 14)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 5.6/12 eggs
($ 3 to $ 7)

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51% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Chicken

$ 16/kg
($ 5.9 to $ 32)

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26% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 4.9/kg
($ 2.5 to $ 12)

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8% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 4.4/kg
($ 2.2 to $ 14)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 1.9/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 8.9)

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37% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 3.2
($ 2 to $ 4)

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47% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Public and private transport budget in Santa Barbara

Bus ticket

$ 1.8/ticket
($ 1.8 to $ 1.9)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 4.4/km
($ 4.4 to $ 4.4)

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158% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.6)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 6
($ 3 to $ 9)

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70% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Leisure activity budget in Santa Barbara

Cinema

$ 13/ticket
($ 13 to $ 16)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 19/hr
( $ 19)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Santa Barbara

Cigarettes

$ 14/pack
($ 11 to $ 16)

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31% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10

Levi's jeans

$ 75
($ 56 to $ 92)

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43% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 53

Summer dress

$ 43
($ 32 to $ 56)

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3% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Sydney → New York City

$ 1338
(fair price: $ 1173)

Melbourne → New York City

$ 1674
(fair price: $ 1393)

Toronto → New York City

$ 274
(fair price: $ 238)

Montreal → New York City

$ 312
(fair price: $ 276)

New York City → Miami (Florida)

$ 282
(fair price: $ 186)

Los Angeles → New York City

$ 390
(fair price: $ 302)