Salinas, CA vs Santa Maria, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Santa Maria, CA and Salinas, CA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Salinas works out to about $74,800 in Santa Maria, before taxes.
- Housing is 3.9% higher in Santa Maria, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $3,279 a month in Santa Maria and $2,771 in Salinas, $6,096 a year more in Santa Maria (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $989,000 in Santa Maria and $841,000 in Salinas.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.5%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Salinas and Santa Maria
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
All items Salinas, CA: 109.0 Santa Maria, CA: 108.8
Goods Salinas, CA: 105.2 Santa Maria, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Salinas, CA: 145.7 Santa Maria, CA: 151.4
Utilities Salinas, CA: 154.2 Santa Maria, CA: 149.8
Other services Salinas, CA: 100.3 Santa Maria, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Maria, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.0 | 108.8 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 145.7 | 151.4 |
| Utilities | 154.2 | 149.8 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Salinas | Santa Maria | Santa Maria vs Salinas |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.0 | 108.8 | −0.2% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 145.7 | 151.4 | +3.9% |
| Utilities | 154.2 | 149.8 | −2.8% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,771 | $3,279 | +18.3% |
| Typical home value | $841,000 | $989,000 | +17.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Salinas | $75,000 | $74,800 | −0.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Salinas and Santa Maria has narrowed since 2008: 2.9 points then, 0.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Maria, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.6 | 107.5 |
| 2009 | 107.7 | 110.9 |
| 2010 | 106.8 | 108.0 |
| 2011 | 109.4 | 110.6 |
| 2012 | 110.1 | 110.0 |
| 2013 | 108.9 | 106.6 |
| 2014 | 106.6 | 107.5 |
| 2015 | 106.0 | 106.1 |
| 2016 | 104.8 | 106.6 |
| 2017 | 107.8 | 108.8 |
| 2018 | 112.1 | 112.8 |
| 2019 | 111.5 | 110.9 |
| 2020 | 110.3 | 112.0 |
| 2021 | 109.3 | 111.8 |
| 2022 | 113.1 | 114.0 |
| 2023 | 113.2 | 113.7 |
| 2024 | 109.0 | 108.8 |
Goods
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Maria, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 94.9 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 94.0 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 106.9 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 109.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Maria, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 158.2 | 188.4 |
| 2009 | 149.0 | 175.1 |
| 2010 | 159.4 | 171.4 |
| 2011 | 159.3 | 176.4 |
| 2012 | 163.3 | 163.6 |
| 2013 | 166.7 | 147.8 |
| 2014 | 151.0 | 161.1 |
| 2015 | 161.6 | 162.0 |
| 2016 | 155.0 | 169.5 |
| 2017 | 164.9 | 180.8 |
| 2018 | 164.4 | 175.2 |
| 2019 | 168.6 | 165.7 |
| 2020 | 164.6 | 181.6 |
| 2021 | 159.5 | 187.1 |
| 2022 | 159.5 | 172.2 |
| 2023 | 166.6 | 175.4 |
| 2024 | 145.7 | 151.4 |
Utilities
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Maria, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 93.5 |
| 2009 | 96.4 | 92.2 |
| 2010 | 110.4 | 108.1 |
| 2011 | 112.8 | 111.5 |
| 2012 | 116.1 | 114.3 |
| 2013 | 115.3 | 110.9 |
| 2014 | 121.2 | 119.7 |
| 2015 | 121.3 | 119.1 |
| 2016 | 115.5 | 110.1 |
| 2017 | 110.4 | 103.5 |
| 2018 | 120.2 | 116.7 |
| 2019 | 128.6 | 125.3 |
| 2020 | 130.6 | 126.9 |
| 2021 | 140.8 | 136.6 |
| 2022 | 144.7 | 141.3 |
| 2023 | 138.4 | 133.4 |
| 2024 | 154.2 | 149.8 |
Other services
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Maria, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 102.5 |
| 2012 | 102.4 | 102.4 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 101.1 |
| 2014 | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2018 | 103.7 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $3,279 in Santa Maria vs $2,771 in Salinas
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Maria, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,515 | $1,650 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,551 | $1,732 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,550 | $1,749 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,637 | $1,766 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,647 | $1,816 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,713 | $1,834 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,733 | $1,841 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,717 | $1,838 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,790 | $1,888 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,829 | $1,922 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,834 | $1,925 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,855 | $1,915 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,882 | $1,965 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,936 | $2,008 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,964 | $2,018 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,936 | $2,018 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,964 | $2,045 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,013 | $2,112 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,058 | $2,112 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,040 | $2,147 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,043 | $2,164 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,048 | $2,182 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,111 | $2,224 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,152 | $2,271 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,155 | $2,317 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,205 | $2,439 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,337 | $2,647 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,337 | $2,753 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,360 | $2,815 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,447 | $2,943 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,458 | $2,971 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,482 | $2,936 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,517 | $2,991 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,526 | $2,976 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,583 | $3,058 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,532 | $3,052 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,602 | $3,026 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,614 | $3,091 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,667 | $3,136 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,709 | $3,128 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,787 | $3,204 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,744 | $3,149 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,750 | $3,188 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,743 | $3,201 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,790 | $3,270 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,909 | $3,264 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,771 | $3,279 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $989,000 in Santa Maria vs $841,000 in Salinas
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Maria, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $430K | $496K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $439K | $504K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $448K | $511K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $464K | $524K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $478K | $540K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $482K | $542K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $487K | $543K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $499K | $550K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $512K | $557K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $519K | $561K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $526K | $565K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $535K | $575K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $545K | $581K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $553K | $584K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $558K | $585K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $567K | $592K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $573K | $590K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $578K | $593K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $581K | $595K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $587K | $598K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $597K | $606K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $606K | $613K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $618K | $624K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $649K | $657K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $679K | $685K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $718K | $728K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $740K | $759K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $755K | $788K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $797K | $849K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $830K | $903K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $811K | $894K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $793K | $875K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $781K | $864K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $795K | $881K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $815K | $915K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $825K | $931K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $828K | $939K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $843K | $955K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $847K | $963K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $849K | $963K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $846K | $960K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $836K | $949K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $831K | $948K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $832K | $962K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $831K | $971K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $834K | $975K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $841K | $989K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.