What is the cost of living in Isla Vista, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Isla Vista has an overall cost of living index of 133, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Isla Vista has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Isla Vista ranks as #181 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Isla Vista ranks as the #453 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Isla Vista, check out:
Isla Vista Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Isla Vista. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Isla Vista is 109.
The Groceries index in Isla Vista is 117.
The Health index in Isla Vista is 173.
The Housing index in Isla Vista is 115.
The Transportation index in Isla Vista is 119.
The Utilities index in Isla Vista is 119.
| Living Expense | Isla Vista | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 133 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 173 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Isla Vista 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 Isla Vista Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Isla Vista, 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 Isla Vista is $1,467,458.
The Median Rent in Isla Vista is $1,878.
The Median Income in Isla Vista is $25,972.
The Home Value To Income in Isla Vista is 56.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Isla Vista is 0.87x.
| Statistic | Isla Vista | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,467,458 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,878 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $25,972 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 56.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.87x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Isla Vista, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Isla Vista Services costs vs. California
| Item | Isla Vista | 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 Isla Vista Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Isla Vista | 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 Isla Vista Health costs vs. California
| Item | Isla Vista | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Isla Vista Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Isla Vista | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Isla Vista Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Isla Vista | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Isla Vista SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Isla Vista
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Isla Vista. 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, 1.1x Isla Vista.
Santa Maria, CA has a cost of living index of 138, 1.0x Isla Vista.
Santa Barbara, CA has a cost of living index of 223, 1.7x Isla Vista.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Isla Vista |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard, CA | 200,928 | 152 | 1.1x |
| Santa Maria, CA | 110,462 | 138 | 1.0x |
| Santa Barbara, CA | 87,779 | 223 | 1.7x |
| Camarillo, CA | 70,186 | 172 | 1.3x |
| Goleta, CA | 32,685 | 193 | 1.5x |
| Orcutt, CA | 31,454 | 148 | 1.1x |
| Port Hueneme, CA | 21,582 | 147 | 1.1x |
| Carpinteria, CA | 13,036 | 184 | 1.4x |
| Montecito, CA | 9,031 | 338 | 2.5x |
| Mira Monte, CA | 6,888 | 172 | 1.3x |
