San Luis Obispo, 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 San Luis Obispo, CA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in San Luis Obispo works out to about $75,100 in Santa Maria, before taxes.
- Housing is 4.9% 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 $2,802 in San Luis Obispo, $5,724 a year more in Santa Maria (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $989,000 in Santa Maria and $898,000 in San Luis Obispo.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.6%).
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 San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- San Luis Obispo, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
All items San Luis Obispo, CA: 108.6 Santa Maria, CA: 108.8
Goods San Luis Obispo, CA: 105.2 Santa Maria, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) San Luis Obispo, CA: 144.4 Santa Maria, CA: 151.4
Utilities San Luis Obispo, CA: 147.8 Santa Maria, CA: 149.8
Other services San Luis Obispo, 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
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Santa Maria, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.6 | 108.8 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 144.4 | 151.4 |
| Utilities | 147.8 | 149.8 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | San Luis Obispo | Santa Maria | Santa Maria vs San Luis Obispo |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.6 | 108.8 | +0.2% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 144.4 | 151.4 | +4.9% |
| Utilities | 147.8 | 149.8 | +1.3% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,802 | $3,279 | +17.0% |
| Typical home value | $898,000 | $989,000 | +10.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in San Luis Obispo | $75,000 | $75,100 | +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 San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria has narrowed since 2008: 2.4 points then, 0.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- San Luis Obispo, 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
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Santa Maria, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.1 | 107.5 |
| 2009 | 109.2 | 110.9 |
| 2010 | 106.5 | 108.0 |
| 2011 | 109.7 | 110.6 |
| 2012 | 107.2 | 110.0 |
| 2013 | 106.6 | 106.6 |
| 2014 | 106.1 | 107.5 |
| 2015 | 105.3 | 106.1 |
| 2016 | 105.0 | 106.6 |
| 2017 | 108.3 | 108.8 |
| 2018 | 111.3 | 112.8 |
| 2019 | 110.2 | 110.9 |
| 2020 | 111.3 | 112.0 |
| 2021 | 108.6 | 111.8 |
| 2022 | 112.7 | 114.0 |
| 2023 | 111.0 | 113.7 |
| 2024 | 108.6 | 108.8 |
Goods
- San Luis Obispo, 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
| San Luis Obispo, 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)
- San Luis Obispo, 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
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Santa Maria, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 155.4 | 188.4 |
| 2009 | 157.5 | 175.1 |
| 2010 | 150.6 | 171.4 |
| 2011 | 154.0 | 176.4 |
| 2012 | 143.5 | 163.6 |
| 2013 | 147.1 | 147.8 |
| 2014 | 142.8 | 161.1 |
| 2015 | 149.6 | 162.0 |
| 2016 | 153.9 | 169.5 |
| 2017 | 165.2 | 180.8 |
| 2018 | 154.8 | 175.2 |
| 2019 | 151.5 | 165.7 |
| 2020 | 164.4 | 181.6 |
| 2021 | 146.9 | 187.1 |
| 2022 | 157.1 | 172.2 |
| 2023 | 149.5 | 175.4 |
| 2024 | 144.4 | 151.4 |
Utilities
- San Luis Obispo, 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
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Santa Maria, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.3 | 93.5 |
| 2009 | 94.7 | 92.2 |
| 2010 | 107.8 | 108.1 |
| 2011 | 110.9 | 111.5 |
| 2012 | 114.1 | 114.3 |
| 2013 | 111.5 | 110.9 |
| 2014 | 119.2 | 119.7 |
| 2015 | 119.7 | 119.1 |
| 2016 | 113.1 | 110.1 |
| 2017 | 108.9 | 103.5 |
| 2018 | 118.5 | 116.7 |
| 2019 | 125.9 | 125.3 |
| 2020 | 128.0 | 126.9 |
| 2021 | 137.3 | 136.6 |
| 2022 | 141.6 | 141.3 |
| 2023 | 133.6 | 133.4 |
| 2024 | 147.8 | 149.8 |
Other services
- San Luis Obispo, 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
| San Luis Obispo, 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 $2,802 in San Luis Obispo
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- San Luis Obispo, 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
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Santa Maria, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,473 | $1,650 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,554 | $1,732 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,603 | $1,749 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,558 | $1,766 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,615 | $1,816 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,639 | $1,834 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,685 | $1,841 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,691 | $1,838 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,735 | $1,888 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,745 | $1,922 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,747 | $1,925 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,785 | $1,915 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,781 | $1,965 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,811 | $2,008 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,840 | $2,018 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,854 | $2,018 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,871 | $2,045 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,890 | $2,112 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,875 | $2,112 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,903 | $2,147 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,941 | $2,164 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,913 | $2,182 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,966 | $2,224 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,024 | $2,271 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,045 | $2,317 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,069 | $2,439 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,146 | $2,647 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,207 | $2,753 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,271 | $2,815 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,335 | $2,943 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,393 | $2,971 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,338 | $2,936 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,416 | $2,991 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,490 | $2,976 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,492 | $3,058 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,534 | $3,052 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,583 | $3,026 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,588 | $3,091 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,609 | $3,136 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,659 | $3,128 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,702 | $3,204 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,723 | $3,149 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,724 | $3,188 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,721 | $3,201 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,787 | $3,270 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,768 | $3,264 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,802 | $3,279 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $989,000 in Santa Maria vs $898,000 in San Luis Obispo
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- San Luis Obispo, 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
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Santa Maria, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $478K | $496K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $487K | $504K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $483K | $511K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $473K | $524K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $491K | $540K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $511K | $542K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $522K | $543K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $539K | $550K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $558K | $557K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $561K | $561K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $565K | $565K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $580K | $575K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $593K | $581K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $591K | $584K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $596K | $585K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $602K | $592K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $601K | $590K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $600K | $593K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $602K | $595K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $612K | $598K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $620K | $606K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $619K | $613K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $625K | $624K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $658K | $657K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $681K | $685K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $712K | $728K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $732K | $759K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $753K | $788K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $798K | $849K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $837K | $903K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $827K | $894K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $819K | $875K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $807K | $864K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $822K | $881K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $848K | $915K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $860K | $931K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $858K | $939K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $870K | $955K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $872K | $963K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $876K | $963K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $878K | $960K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $878K | $949K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $880K | $948K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $889K | $962K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $889K | $971K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $890K | $975K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $898K | $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.