CostIndexUSA

Cleveland, OH vs Santa Barbara, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableOH
Cleveland
93.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
CA
Santa Barbara
108.8
overall index
$2,275/mo rent

Cleveland is significantly cheaper than Santa Barbara — 15.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cleveland, you would need $92,700 in Santa Barbara. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+90.7%
Cleveland
79.4
Santa Barbara
151.4
🛒 Groceries+12.4%
Cleveland
93.6
Santa Barbara
105.2
🚗 Transportation+1.3%
Cleveland
103.9
Santa Barbara
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.4%
Cleveland
94
Santa Barbara
95.3
Utilities+56.0%
Cleveland
96
Santa Barbara
149.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Cleveland to see what you'd need to earn in Santa Barbara to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Barbara, CA
$92,700
$12,700 more needed in Santa Barbara

Formula: salary × (108.8 ÷ 93.9) = salary × 1.1587. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cleveland, OH

Median Home Price
$236,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.0×

Santa Barbara, CA

Median Home Price
$510,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,275
Housing Index
151.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.7×

Santa Barbara has 90.7% higher housing costs compared to Cleveland.

Income & Job Market

Cleveland, OH

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Population
372,624
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceTechnologyEducation

Santa Barbara, CA

Median Household Income
$91,200
Per Capita Income
$52,000
Unemployment Rate
6.1%
Population
88,255
Top Industries
EducationTourismTechnologyHealthcareBiotechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Cleveland, OH
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Santa Barbara, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.