salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 8.0 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are short, about 17.8 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $143,600 a year. That is $69 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other California cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of California. It is number 647 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Goleta?
Share of households by yearly income. 49.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Goleta
| Size | Goleta | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,952 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,250 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,915 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Goleta overall?
Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Goleta, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Goleta
Life in Goleta
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Goleta?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $3,780 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,062,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $106,210 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Goleta, CA?
Renting in Goleta costs a median of about $3,590 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Goleta?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $143,600 a year, or $69 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Goleta cheap or expensive?
Goleta is rated Expensive: rent takes 32.6% of the typical household income of $131,976. It ranks 647th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Goleta?
The median homeowner in Goleta pays $6,451 a year in property taxes, about 0.61% of the median home value.
Is Goleta more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in California are 11% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Goleta?
The median home value in Goleta is $1,062,100, about 8.0 times the typical yearly household income.
32,685 people live in Goleta. Numbers are typical (middle) values.