Relocation profile · Federal data
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
LiveAbility 25.3/100 places Santa Maria-Santa Barbara #381 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
- 108.8
- Cost index (US=100)
- $3,124
- 2BR rent / mo
- $79,314
- Median salary
- 25.3
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks #381 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (25.3/100), with its strongest marks in job market and climate.
- #381
- of 387 US metros · Well below median
- 39,431,263
- metro-area population
- 477
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 10,006
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: housing (0/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks #381 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 108.8 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $3,124/mo, median salary $79,314; LiveAbility Score 25.3/100, strongest in job market and climate.
Signature: LiveAbility 25.3/100 places Santa Maria-Santa Barbara #381 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 108.8 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $3,124/mo.
LiveAbility 25.3/100 puts Santa Maria-Santa Barbara in the bottom third (#381 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara area is 193,410.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
25 Top 98% higher than 2% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara MSA; housing RPP 151.4 (100 = national average); 2BR $3,124/mo.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara wages and employment
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara posts 193,410 total employment with median salary $79,314 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $36,230 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,940 |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,200 |
| Cashiers | $36,600 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara's composite Life Score is 39.5/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks #381 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 25.3/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Job market
Job market
97 /100
- Climate
Climate
67 /100
- Air quality 24
Air quality
24 /100
- Safety 9
Safety
9 /100
- Low hazard 8
Low hazard
8 /100
- Cost of living 4
Cost of living
4 /100
- Schools 3
Schools
3 /100
- Housing 0
Housing
0 /100
What this shows Santa Maria-Santa Barbara's strongest dimensions are job market and climate; its weakest among scored dims is housing at 0/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Metros near Santa Maria-Santa Barbara on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Santa Maria-Santa Barbara on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Santa Maria-Santa Barbara wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara runs a $79,314 median salary at a 108.8 cost index, ranking #381 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Santa Maria-Santa Barbara's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Santa Maria-Santa Barbara head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.