Santa Paula, CA vs Benicia, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Benicia, CA has a modeled overall cost index 10.5% higher than Santa Paula, CA.

Santa Paula, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,190 / month
Benicia, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,530 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Santa Paula, CA and Benicia, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Santa Paula, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $827/month in Benicia, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $159,920 in Benicia, CA

Regional cost estimates: Santa Paula, CA uses Oxnard, CA. Benicia, CA uses Oakland, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 10.5%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$827

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$9.9K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Santa Paula, CA

Population:32K

Cost Index:

140.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$696K

Benicia, CA

Population:26K

Cost Index:

154.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$755K

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Santa Paula, CA

The Golden State

32K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 32K residents.

Benicia, CA

The Golden State

26K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 26K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Santa Paula, CA vs Benicia, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Santa Paula, CA	Benicia, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,225/mo	$4,082/mo	↑ $857more	26.6%
Healthcare	$380/mo	$482/mo	↑ $102more	26.7%
Other	$1,335/mo	$1,239/mo	↓ $95.53less	7.2%
All Utilities	$384/mo	$306/mo	↓ $78.78less	20.5%
Groceries	$717/mo	$791/mo	↑ $73.95more	10.3%
Transportation	$1,459/mo	$1,427/mo	↓ $31.82less	2.2%

Housing

↑ 26.6%

Santa Paula, CA

$3,225

Benicia, CA

$4,082

Difference

$857

Healthcare

↑ 26.7%

Santa Paula, CA

$380

Benicia, CA

$482

Difference

$102

Other

↓ 7.2%

Santa Paula, CA

$1,335

Benicia, CA

$1,239

Difference

$95.53

less

All Utilities

↓ 20.5%

Santa Paula, CA

$384

Benicia, CA

$306

Difference

$78.78

less

Groceries

↑ 10.3%

Santa Paula, CA

$717

Benicia, CA

$791

Difference

$73.95

Transportation

↓ 2.2%

Santa Paula, CA

$1,459

Benicia, CA

$1,427

Difference

$31.82

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,630

To$1,800

↑ $170

1 Bed

From$1,830

To$1,980

↑ $150

2 Bed

From$2,190

To$2,530

↑ $340

3 Bed

From$2,970

To$3,380

↑ $410

Santa Paula, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,830–$1,830/mo

Benicia, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,980–$1,980/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Santa Paula, CA

$8,327

Monthly in Benicia, CA

$827

Difference

Home Values

Santa Paula

Benicia

$696K

Median Value

$755K

↓ -1%

YoY Change

↓ -0.7%

↑ +27.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +19.3%

Homes in Benicia are 9% more expensive than Santa Paula

Calculate payment - Santa Paula Calculate payment - Benicia

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Santa Paula, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Benicia, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Santa Paula, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Benicia, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Santa Paula

Benicia

50 Good

Air Quality

49 Good

52.2%

Good Air Days

53%

99 High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🫨

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+1.9°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+1.9°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

Before moving from Santa Paula, CA to Benicia, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Benicia, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Santa Paula, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Santa Paula to Benicia moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Benicia, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Santa Paula, CA vs Benicia, CA

How do the cost estimates for Santa Paula, CA and Benicia, CA compare?

Benicia, CA has a modeled overall cost index 10.5% higher than Santa Paula, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Santa Paula, CA, the model estimates $159,920 in Benicia, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Santa Paula, CA and Benicia, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,190/month in Santa Paula, CA and $2,530/month in Benicia, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.