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 2025

On average, the cost of living in Santa Barbara in 2025 is 16% 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 2025 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Santa Barbara by expense type

Restaurant budget in Santa Barbara

Lunch

$ 27/person
($ 15 to $ 57)

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23% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

3 course dinner

$ 52/person
($ 41 to $ 114)

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25% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 41

McDonald's meal

$ 17/person
($ 13 to $ 21)

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43% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 9.1 for 500ml
($ 5.7 to $ 12)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.5

Imported beer

$ 3.3 for 330ml
($ 2.1 to $ 5.7)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Cappuccino

$ 6.2/cup
($ 4 to $ 9.1)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.6

Fizzy drink

$ 3.1/can
($ 2.2 to $ 4.5)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Water bottle

$ 2.7/bottle
($ 2.2 to $ 4.5)

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19% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Santa Barbara

1-star hotel

$ 253/night
($ 92 to $ 1030)

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45% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175

2-star hotel

$ 224/night
($ 76 to $ 775)

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35% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 167

3-star hotel

$ 316/night
($ 138 to $ 738)

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29% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 246

4-star hotel

$ 494/night
($ 225 to $ 1265)

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43% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 346

5-star hotel

$ 1053/night
($ 406 to $ 2047)

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87% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 565

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 242/month
($ 126 to $ 795)

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37% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 177

Room with kitchen

$ 391/month
($ 125 to $ 1167)

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49% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 263

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 318/month
($ 80 to $ 1405)

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43% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 224

Cottage or guest house

$ 405/month
($ 204 to $ 854)

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60% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 254

Family room

$ 330/month
($ 82 to $ 1519)

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52% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 218

Supermarket food budget in Santa Barbara

Milk

$ 1.4/litre
($ 1 to $ 1.7)

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19% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 4.9/500g
($ 2.9 to $ 7.4)

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25% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Rice

$ 5.2/kg
($ 2.4 to $ 16)

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6% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5

Eggs

$ 5/12 eggs
($ 3.4 to $ 7.9)

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24% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Chicken

$ 15/kg
($ 7.4 to $ 35)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 6/kg
($ 2.4 to $ 10)

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6% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.7

Tomatoes

$ 5.7/kg
($ 2.4 to $ 16)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Potatoes

$ 3.6/kg
($ 1.5 to $ 13)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2

Water bottle

$ 2.8
($ 1.2 to $ 4.5)

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20% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4

Public and private transport budget in Santa Barbara

Bus ticket

$ 2/ticket
($ 2 to $ 2.1)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Taxi (per km)

$ 2.3/km
($ 2.3 to $ 4.9)

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24% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 1.4/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 1.7)

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36% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 3.4
($ 3.4 to $ 12)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Leisure activity budget in Santa Barbara

Cinema

$ 15/ticket
($ 14 to $ 24)

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6% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Tennis

$ 21/hr
( $ 21)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Santa Barbara

Cigarettes

$ 14/pack
($ 10.2 to $ 17)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 67
($ 41 to $ 114)

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15% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 57

Summer dress

$ 54
($ 35 to $ 91)

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13% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 47

Plane ticket budget

Dublin → New York City

$ 588
(fair price: $ 505)

Manchester → New York City

$ 704
(fair price: $ 581)

London → New York City

$ 572
(fair price: $ 502)

Edinburgh → New York City

$ 827
(fair price: $ 659)

London → Las Vegas

$ 1010
(fair price: $ 842)

London → Miami (Florida)

$ 734
(fair price: $ 622)