What is the cost of living in Goleta, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Goleta has an overall cost of living index of 193, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Goleta has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Goleta ranks as #502 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Goleta ranks as the #132 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Goleta, check out:
Goleta Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Goleta. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Goleta is 106.
The Groceries index in Goleta is 114.
The Health index in Goleta is 375.
The Housing index in Goleta is 115.
The Transportation index in Goleta is 119.
The Utilities index in Goleta is 117.
| Living Expense | Goleta | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 193 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 375 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
Goleta 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 Goleta Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Goleta, 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 Goleta is $1,364,877.
The Median Rent in Goleta is $2,437.
The Median Income in Goleta is $122,370.
The Home Value To Income in Goleta is 11.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Goleta is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Goleta | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,364,877 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,437 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $122,370 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Goleta, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Goleta Services costs vs. California
| Item | Goleta | 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 Goleta Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Goleta | 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 Goleta Health costs vs. California
| Item | Goleta | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Goleta Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Goleta | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Goleta Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Goleta | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Goleta SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Goleta
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Goleta. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Oxnard, CA has a cost of living index of 152, 0.8x Goleta.
Santa Maria, CA has a cost of living index of 138, 0.7x Goleta.
Santa Barbara, CA has a cost of living index of 223, 1.2x Goleta.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Goleta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard, CA | 200,928 | 152 | 0.8x |
| Santa Maria, CA | 110,462 | 138 | 0.7x |
| Santa Barbara, CA | 87,779 | 223 | 1.2x |
| Camarillo, CA | 70,186 | 172 | 0.9x |
| Orcutt, CA | 31,454 | 148 | 0.8x |
| Port Hueneme, CA | 21,582 | 147 | 0.8x |
| Isla Vista, CA | 13,920 | 133 | 0.7x |
| Carpinteria, CA | 13,036 | 184 | 1.0x |
| Montecito, CA | 9,031 | 338 | 1.8x |
| Mira Monte, CA | 6,888 | 172 | 0.9x |
