Santa Maria, CA vs Los Angeles, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Los Angeles, CA is 4.4% more expensive than Santa Maria, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Santa Maria works out to about $78,300 in Los Angeles, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 12.6% more in Los Angeles. Goods are 1.4% higher and other services 4.1% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,929 a month in Los Angeles and $3,279 in Santa Maria, $4,200 a year less in Los Angeles (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $950,000 in Los Angeles and $989,000 in Santa Maria.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Los Angeles was 0.1% more expensive than Santa Maria.
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.
Housing drives the gap: 12.6% higher in Los Angeles than in Santa Maria
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Santa Maria, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
All items Santa Maria, CA: 108.8 Los Angeles, CA: 113.6
Goods Santa Maria, CA: 105.2 Los Angeles, CA: 106.6
Housing (rents) Santa Maria, CA: 151.4 Los Angeles, CA: 170.4
Utilities Santa Maria, CA: 149.8 Los Angeles, CA: 158.6
Other services Santa Maria, CA: 100.3 Los Angeles, CA: 104.4
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Maria, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.8 | 113.6 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 106.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 151.4 | 170.4 |
| Utilities | 149.8 | 158.6 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 104.4 |
| Category | Santa Maria | Los Angeles | Los Angeles vs Santa Maria |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.8 | 113.6 | +4.4% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 106.6 | +1.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 151.4 | 170.4 | +12.6% |
| Utilities | 149.8 | 158.6 | +5.9% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 104.4 | +4.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $3,279 | $2,929 | −10.7% |
| Typical home value | $989,000 | $950,000 | −3.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Santa Maria | $75,000 | $78,300 | +4.4% |
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 Santa Maria and Los Angeles has been fairly stable since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Santa Maria, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Maria, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.5 | 113.3 |
| 2009 | 110.9 | 112.2 |
| 2010 | 108.0 | 112.5 |
| 2011 | 110.6 | 111.5 |
| 2012 | 110.0 | 112.1 |
| 2013 | 106.6 | 112.4 |
| 2014 | 107.5 | 112.2 |
| 2015 | 106.1 | 113.3 |
| 2016 | 106.6 | 111.3 |
| 2017 | 108.8 | 110.2 |
| 2018 | 112.8 | 111.0 |
| 2019 | 110.9 | 110.9 |
| 2020 | 112.0 | 113.9 |
| 2021 | 111.8 | 114.2 |
| 2022 | 114.0 | 113.3 |
| 2023 | 113.7 | 114.7 |
| 2024 | 108.8 | 113.6 |
Goods
- Santa Maria, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Maria, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 108.0 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 103.1 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 104.0 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 105.1 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 104.4 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 104.4 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 106.2 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 108.1 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 107.8 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 102.5 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 103.6 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 105.9 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 106.5 |
| 2021 | 106.9 | 108.9 |
| 2022 | 109.0 | 106.5 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 107.1 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 106.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Santa Maria, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Maria, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 188.4 | 183.8 |
| 2009 | 175.1 | 183.2 |
| 2010 | 171.4 | 180.0 |
| 2011 | 176.4 | 178.3 |
| 2012 | 163.6 | 178.4 |
| 2013 | 147.8 | 176.7 |
| 2014 | 161.1 | 178.5 |
| 2015 | 162.0 | 177.2 |
| 2016 | 169.5 | 178.5 |
| 2017 | 180.8 | 178.4 |
| 2018 | 175.2 | 180.5 |
| 2019 | 165.7 | 183.4 |
| 2020 | 181.6 | 183.6 |
| 2021 | 187.1 | 181.5 |
| 2022 | 172.2 | 176.9 |
| 2023 | 175.4 | 173.0 |
| 2024 | 151.4 | 170.4 |
Utilities
- Santa Maria, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Maria, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.5 | 118.2 |
| 2009 | 92.2 | 119.5 |
| 2010 | 108.1 | 119.3 |
| 2011 | 111.5 | 114.5 |
| 2012 | 114.3 | 116.2 |
| 2013 | 110.9 | 117.9 |
| 2014 | 119.7 | 127.7 |
| 2015 | 119.1 | 125.1 |
| 2016 | 110.1 | 125.2 |
| 2017 | 103.5 | 127.1 |
| 2018 | 116.7 | 107.9 |
| 2019 | 125.3 | 112.9 |
| 2020 | 126.9 | 117.6 |
| 2021 | 136.6 | 132.3 |
| 2022 | 141.3 | 149.1 |
| 2023 | 133.4 | 140.7 |
| 2024 | 149.8 | 158.6 |
Other services
- Santa Maria, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Maria, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 101.9 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 102.0 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 102.5 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 101.1 |
| 2012 | 102.4 | 102.6 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 103.2 |
| 2014 | 101.0 | 101.8 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 103.0 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 99.9 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 100.8 |
| 2018 | 103.7 | 101.8 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 100.0 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 102.7 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 102.9 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 103.7 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 106.1 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 104.4 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,929 in Los Angeles vs $3,279 in Santa Maria
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Santa Maria, CA
- Los Angeles, 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
| Santa Maria, CA | Los Angeles, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,650 | $1,768 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,732 | $1,809 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,749 | $1,843 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,766 | $1,858 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,816 | $1,888 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,834 | $1,925 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,841 | $1,948 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,838 | $1,955 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,888 | $2,007 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,922 | $2,042 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,925 | $2,062 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,915 | $2,071 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,965 | $2,104 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $2,008 | $2,132 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $2,018 | $2,155 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $2,018 | $2,171 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,045 | $2,190 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,112 | $2,222 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,112 | $2,239 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,147 | $2,246 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,164 | $2,260 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,182 | $2,236 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,224 | $2,236 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,271 | $2,238 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,317 | $2,275 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,439 | $2,338 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,647 | $2,468 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,753 | $2,523 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,815 | $2,591 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,943 | $2,668 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,971 | $2,706 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,936 | $2,689 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,991 | $2,706 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,976 | $2,733 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $3,058 | $2,759 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $3,052 | $2,742 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $3,026 | $2,766 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $3,091 | $2,796 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $3,136 | $2,819 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $3,128 | $2,805 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $3,204 | $2,865 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $3,149 | $2,871 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $3,188 | $2,878 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $3,201 | $2,866 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $3,270 | $2,890 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $3,264 | $2,916 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $3,279 | $2,929 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $950,000 in Los Angeles vs $989,000 in Santa Maria
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Santa Maria, CA
- Los Angeles, 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
| Santa Maria, CA | Los Angeles, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $496K | $507K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $504K | $509K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $511K | $505K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $524K | $495K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $540K | $518K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $542K | $538K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $543K | $528K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $550K | $524K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $557K | $557K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $561K | $578K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $565K | $579K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $575K | $591K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $581K | $613K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $584K | $627K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $585K | $644K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $592K | $660K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $590K | $643K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $593K | $635K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $595K | $645K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $598K | $664K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $606K | $669K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $613K | $666K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $624K | $682K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $657K | $723K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $685K | $741K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $728K | $769K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $759K | $797K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $788K | $822K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $849K | $864K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $903K | $897K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $894K | $890K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $875K | $878K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $864K | $849K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $881K | $858K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $915K | $896K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $931K | $922K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $939K | $918K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $955K | $931K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $963K | $947K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $963K | $961K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $960K | $954K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $949K | $941K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $948K | $938K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $962K | $948K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $971K | $951K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $975K | $947K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $989K | $950K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Santa Maria, CA
- Cost of living in Los Angeles, CA
- Reverse: moving from Los Angeles to Santa Maria
Related comparisons
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.