CostByCity

San Francisco, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

Cost of Living Comparison

Santa Cruz, CA is more affordable by 5.7 index points

Side-by-Side Comparison

CategorySan Francisco, CASanta Cruz, CADifference
Overall115.6109.9+5.7
Housing194.7164.3+30.4
Goods108.5105.2+3.3
Utilities172.6152.7+19.9
Other Services106.2100.3+5.9

Income & Housing Comparison

MetricSan Francisco, CASanta Cruz, CA
Median Household Income$129,315$104,409
Median Home Value$1,073,300$951,300
Median Monthly Rent$2,336$2,094
Per Capita Income$68,958$52,887

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Francisco, CA or Santa Cruz, CA cheaper to live in?
Santa Cruz, CA is more affordable. The cost of living difference is 5.7 index points (San Francisco, CA: 115.6, Santa Cruz, CA: 109.9).
Where is housing cheaper, San Francisco, CA or Santa Cruz, CA?
Housing is more affordable in Santa Cruz, CA. Housing index: San Francisco, CA (194.7) vs Santa Cruz, CA (164.3).