Santa Barbara, CA , USA
Editor
March 12, 2023
Santa Barbara, California is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a place to work and explore. With its Mediterranean climate, stunning beaches, and vibrant culture, Santa Barbara offers a unique and exciting experience for digital nomads. The city is home to a thriving tech industry, with many startups and established companies offering remote work opportunities. Additionally, Santa Barbara is a great place to live, with a cost of living that is lower than the national average. The city also boasts a wide variety of outdoor activities, from hiking and biking to surfing and kayaking. With its diverse cultural attractions, world-class restaurants, and vibrant nightlife, Santa Barbara is the perfect place for digital nomads to call home. Furthermore, the city is well-connected to the rest of the world, with easy access to airports, highways, and public transportation. With its combination of work opportunities, affordability, and recreational activities, Santa Barbara is an ideal destination for digital nomads.
Living in Santa Barbara, CA , USA: Overview
Overall score | Worksplorer index
-
78%
Quality of life -
101%
Cost of living -
56%
Connectivity -
96%
Weather
76
General
| Currency | USD |
| Population (in millions) | 0.45 |
| Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200) | Unranked |
| Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA | 8% more expensive |
| Best neighborhood to stay | Montecito, Goleta |
Culture
| Number of museums and galleries | 25 |
| Top selling local beer | IPA |
| Most popular local dish | Fish Tacos |
Travel
| Most popular tourist attraction(s) | Stearns Wharf, Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County Courthouse |
| Discount airline | Allegiant |
| Major airline | American Airlines |
| Largest ride sharing company | Lyft |
| Primary train stations | Santa Barbara Station, Goleta Station, Carpinteria Station |
| Primary airports | Santa Barbara Airport, Oxnard Airport, Camarillo Airport |
| Best rental car company | Enterprise |
| Used car costs | 25000 USD |
Connectivity
| Apple store addresses | Apple Santa Barbara, 731 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 |
| Internet connection (in Mbps) | 100 Mbps |
| Power socket type | A,B |
| Supply voltage | 120V |
| Best electronics store | BestBuy |
| Best internet carrier | Spectrum |
| Primary cellular carrier | Verizon |
| Average monthly cost for internet | $60.00 |
Shopping
| The best drug store | CVS |
| Best restaurant chain | The Lark |
| The best grocery store | Trader Joe's |
| The most popular fashion brand | Anthropologie |
Regulatory
| GDP per capita | $77,945 / year |
| Average annual income | $90,000 |
| Sales tax rate | 8.75% |
| Income tax rate | 9.3% |
| Tourist visa valid (in days) | 0 |
Financial
| Average mortgage rate | 4.25% |
| Suggested ATM take out | 200 USD |
| Bank that has the most ATM machines | Bank of America |
| Average tip in restaurant | 15-20% |
| Pay using credit or debit card | Less common |
Health
| Emergency Phone Numbers | 911 (general), 805-897-2300 (police), 805-569-5400 (ambulance), 805- |
| Polution per square meter | 545 |
| Health quality rank (according to WHO) | Not available |
| Main religion | Christianity |
Quality of life
78%
-
84%
Safety, freedom, rights -
91%
Traffic -
111%
Property to income -
16%
Crime -
69%
Healthcare -
96%
Weather
Salaries
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $4,406 |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.79% |
Childcare
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | $1,675 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | $43,750 |
Cost of living
101%
-
Purchasing Power
74%
-
Rent
90%
-
Food
118%
-
Restaurant
116%
-
Workspace
31%
-
Transport
17%
Rent
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Per Month | $2,933.75 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Per Month | $2,607.14 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre Per Month | $5,733.33 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre Per Month | $4,500.00 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend), Sports And Leisure | $14.25 |
Food
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | $1.21 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | $4.95 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | $4.99 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | $27.89 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | $3.06 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $17.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | $2.42 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | $2.75 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | $10.84 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | $26.41 |
| Apples (1kg) | $7.24 |
| Oranges (1kg) | $6.13 |
| Potato (1kg) | $5.87 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $4.66 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | $8.13 |
| Tomato (1kg) | $6.69 |
| Banana (1kg) | $2.08 |
| Onion (1kg) | $5.51 |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | $22.04 |
Restaurants
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | $28.00 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | $130.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | $12.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | $6.50 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | $8.99 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | $2.50 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | $2.70 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | $5.96 |
Connectivity
94%
Infrastructure
89/100
Internet speed
92/100
Internet cost
95/100
Pre-paid plan
98/100
Utilities (Monthly)
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | $193.47 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | $0.17 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $96.49 |
Sports
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $86.50 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | $14.25 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | $14.50 |
Transportation
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | $1.80 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | $62.50 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1.45 |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | $40,000.00 |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | $27,329.80 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | $4.50 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | $3.10 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | $49.99 |
