What is the cost of living in Solvang, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Solvang has an overall cost of living index of 174, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Solvang has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Solvang ranks as #445 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Solvang ranks as the #189 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Solvang, check out:
Solvang Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Solvang. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Solvang is 108.
The Groceries index in Solvang is 112.
The Health index in Solvang is 316.
The Housing index in Solvang is 111.
The Transportation index in Solvang is 114.
The Utilities index in Solvang is 121.
| Living Expense | Solvang | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 174 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 316 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Solvang 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 Solvang Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Solvang, 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 Solvang is $1,410,758.
The Median Rent in Solvang is $1,666.
The Median Income in Solvang is $109,091.
The Home Value To Income in Solvang is 12.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Solvang is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Solvang | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,410,758 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,666 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $109,091 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 12.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Solvang, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Solvang Services costs vs. California
| Item | Solvang | 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 Solvang Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Solvang | 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 Solvang Health costs vs. California
| Item | Solvang | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Solvang Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Solvang | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Solvang Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Solvang | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
Solvang SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Solvang
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Solvang. 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 Solvang.
Lompoc, CA has a cost of living index of 129, 0.7x Solvang.
Goleta, CA has a cost of living index of 193, 1.1x Solvang.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Solvang |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara, CA | 87,779 | 223 | 1.3x |
| Lompoc, CA | 43,646 | 129 | 0.7x |
| Goleta, CA | 32,685 | 193 | 1.1x |
| Orcutt, CA | 31,454 | 148 | 0.9x |
| Arroyo Grande, CA | 18,372 | 168 | 1.0x |
| Nipomo, CA | 17,516 | 166 | 1.0x |
| Isla Vista, CA | 13,920 | 133 | 0.8x |
| Carpinteria, CA | 13,036 | 184 | 1.1x |
| Grover Beach, CA | 12,604 | 157 | 0.9x |
| Guadalupe, CA | 8,566 | 132 | 0.8x |
