Riverside, CA vs Santa Maria, CA

Riverside, CA and Santa Maria, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.5% difference in their overall index. Riverside scores 137 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 Riverside is $1,812/month compared to $1,842/month in Santa Maria — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Riverside has cheaper rent, Santa Maria actually has lower median home values ($478,200 vs $542,100).

Median household income in Riverside is $88,575 compared to $84,617 in Santa Maria (+4.7%). While Riverside is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Riverside spend roughly 24.5% of their income on rent, less than the 26.1% in Santa Maria.

Climate-wise, Riverside is notably warmer with an average of 66.2°F compared to 58.6°F in Santa Maria. Santa Maria receives more rainfall at 13.3" per year compared to 9.4" in Riverside.