What is the cost of living in Buellton, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Buellton has an overall cost of living index of 167, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Buellton has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Buellton ranks as #404 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Buellton ranks as the #230 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Buellton, check out:
Buellton Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Buellton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Buellton is 111.
The Groceries index in Buellton is 114.
The Health index in Buellton is 286.
The Housing index in Buellton is 112.
The Transportation index in Buellton is 118.
The Utilities index in Buellton is 121.
| Living Expense | Buellton | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 167 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 286 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Buellton Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Buellton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Buellton, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Buellton is $915,960.
The Median Rent in Buellton is $2,194.
The Median Income in Buellton is $99,936.
The Home Value To Income in Buellton is 9.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Buellton is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Buellton | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $915,960 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,194 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $99,936 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Buellton, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Buellton Services costs vs. California
| Item | Buellton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.48 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $18.12 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $89.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Buellton Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Buellton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.77 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.63 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.9 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.13 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Buellton Health costs vs. California
| Item | Buellton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Buellton Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Buellton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Buellton Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Buellton | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Buellton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Buellton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Buellton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Santa Barbara, CA has a cost of living index of 223, 1.3x Buellton.
Lompoc, CA has a cost of living index of 129, 0.8x Buellton.
Goleta, CA has a cost of living index of 193, 1.2x Buellton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Buellton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara, CA | 87,779 | 223 | 1.3x |
| Lompoc, CA | 43,646 | 129 | 0.8x |
| Goleta, CA | 32,685 | 193 | 1.2x |
| Orcutt, CA | 31,454 | 148 | 0.9x |
| Arroyo Grande, CA | 18,372 | 168 | 1.0x |
| Nipomo, CA | 17,516 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Carpinteria, CA | 13,036 | 184 | 1.1x |
| Grover Beach, CA | 12,604 | 157 | 0.9x |
| Guadalupe, CA | 8,566 | 132 | 0.8x |
| Oceano, CA | 7,128 | 136 | 0.8x |
