Cost of living index
Santa Maria, CA
108.8 / 100
Living in Santa Maria, CA is 8.8% more expensive than the US average.
Overall prices
108.8
Housing / rent
151.4
vs US average
+8.8%
What it costs to live in Santa Maria, CA
Santa Maria, CA has an overall price level of 108.8 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 8.8% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 151.4 it is 51.4% above the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is Santa Maria, CA an expensive place to live?
Santa Maria, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 108.8, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 8.8% more expensive than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Santa Maria, CA?
Housing in Santa Maria, CA scores 151.4 against a US average of 100 — roughly 51.4% above average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Santa Maria, CA compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Santa Maria, CA sit at 108.8 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 151.4. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.