2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Ann Arbor, MI vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor?
- Santa Cruz is 76.3% more expensive than Ann Arbor.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Ann Arbor?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 193.4% more expensive than Ann Arbor housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Ann Arbor or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 35.0% more in Santa Cruz.
 Ann Arbor, MISanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries102.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing143.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous130.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Ann Arbor    49 Reviews

Over 8 years ago

Highly educated city. traffic and parking is bad. university culture is nice, not sure about elsewhere. no good pizza! if you're looking for food, I recommend "a taste  More

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Uh, compared to my other favorite college towns this one lacks flavor. Safer and kinda pretty, but not the greenest place, it's fine. Good restaurants, music, art,  More

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Over 10 years ago

Ann Arbor bus service (AATA) is quite good. The Detroit Metro Airport is only a 20 min. drive away and is also quite good. The traffic in Ann Arbor is usually mild  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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