What is the cost of living in Montecito, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Montecito has an overall cost of living index of 338, which is 3.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Montecito has a cost of living index that's 2.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Montecito ranks as #624 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Montecito ranks as the #10 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Montecito, check out:
Montecito Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Montecito. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Montecito is 112.
The Groceries index in Montecito is 117.
The Health index in Montecito is 854.
The Housing index in Montecito is 120.
The Transportation index in Montecito is 124.
The Utilities index in Montecito is 129.
| Living Expense | Montecito | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 338 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 854 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 129 | 121 | 100 |
Montecito 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 Montecito Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Montecito, 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 Montecito is $5,340,831.
The Median Rent in Montecito is $3,501.
The Median Income in Montecito is $231,005.
The Home Value To Income in Montecito is 23.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Montecito is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Montecito | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $5,340,831 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $231,005 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 23.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Montecito, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Montecito Services costs vs. California
| Item | Montecito | 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 Montecito Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Montecito | 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 Montecito Health costs vs. California
| Item | Montecito | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Montecito Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Montecito | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Montecito Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Montecito | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Montecito SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Montecito
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Montecito. 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, 0.7x Montecito.
Goleta, CA has a cost of living index of 193, 0.6x Montecito.
Isla Vista, CA has a cost of living index of 133, 0.4x Montecito.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Montecito |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara, CA | 87,779 | 223 | 0.7x |
| Goleta, CA | 32,685 | 193 | 0.6x |
| Isla Vista, CA | 13,920 | 133 | 0.4x |
| Carpinteria, CA | 13,036 | 184 | 0.5x |
| Mira Monte, CA | 6,888 | 172 | 0.5x |
| Oak View, CA | 6,141 | 165 | 0.5x |
