Bell Gardens, CA vs Santa Maria, CA

Bell Gardens, CA and Santa Maria, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.9% difference in their overall index. Bell Gardens scores 134 while Santa Maria scores 135 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bell Gardens is $1,658/month compared to $1,842/month in Santa Maria — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bell Gardens has cheaper rent, Santa Maria actually has lower median home values ($478,200 vs $527,900).

Median household income in Bell Gardens is $55,372 compared to $84,617 in Santa Maria (-34.6%). While Santa Maria is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bell Gardens spend roughly 35.9% of their income on rent, more than the 26.1% in Santa Maria. The Santa Maria ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.