2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Aliso Viejo, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Aliso Viejo?
- Santa Cruz is 12.8% more expensive than Aliso Viejo.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Aliso Viejo?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 62.2% more expensive than Aliso Viejo housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Aliso Viejo or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 16.9% more in Santa Cruz.
 Aliso Viejo, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries102.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing259.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities102  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous156.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Aliso Viejo    8 Reviews

We've lived here in Aliso Viejo now for two years and just love it! It's clean, extremely walkable, little to no crime and relatively affordable when compared to Los  More

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Over 4 years ago

We just moved here from the East Coast and we absolutely love it. It’s pretty peaceful, has beautiful views of the city, and it’s close to the beach and many parks.  More

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We've liked here for 4yrs now and it is one of the most convenient cities I've ever lived in. Our youngest finished their last 2 yrs of high school here and we were  More

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Reviews for Santa Cruz    44 Reviews

I lived in the Santa Cruz area for 20 years. UCSC alum. Our kids were born there. There are wonderful things about Santa Cruz, but also many serious problems that we  More

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Over 5 years ago

I have been here for four generations! My kids are the fifth. I guess that should tell you how wonderful it is here, at least for us. It's so cool to have world class  More

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I was born over the hill in San Jose area, and as a kid I loved coming over to the boardwalk. Santa Cruz has always been and always will be a town of diversity,  More

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