Residential comparison · 13 facts
Goleta, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Goleta needs about $85,000 in Santa Barbara to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Santa Barbara, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $85,000 in Goleta.
A few differences
- Goleta is higher on median household income ($122,370 vs $106,182).
- Goleta is lower on cost of living index (165 vs 194).
- Goleta is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,749/mo vs $2,772/mo).
Goleta vs Santa Barbara · facet by facet
| Facet | Goleta, CA | Santa Barbara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $1,062,100 | $1,570,800 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,749/mo | $2,772/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| State & local income tax | 2.09% | 2.09% |
| Sales tax | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Cost of living index | 165 | 194 |
| Groceries index | 112 | 112 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $122,370 | $106,182 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 260 days | 260 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Goleta, CA · Santa Barbara, CA
Questions & answers
- Is Goleta cheaper than Santa Barbara?
- Goleta has the lower day-to-day cost index (165 vs 194 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Santa Barbara equals $85,000 in Goleta?
- A household earning $85,000 in Goleta needs about $85,000 in Santa Barbara to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Santa Barbara lifestyle costs about $85,000 in Goleta.