2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Apex, NC vs Santa Monica, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Monica or is it cheaper to live in Apex?
- Santa Monica is 52.8% more expensive than Apex.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Monica or Apex?
- Santa Monica housing costs are 307.3% more expensive than Apex housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Apex or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Monica.
- Health related expenses are 4.9% less in Santa Monica.
 Apex, NCSanta Monica, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock161.7100
 Food & Groceries102.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock90.2100
 Housing152.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,656,900$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock154.8100
 Miscellaneous109.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Apex    11 Reviews

We moved here from western NY last year. It was hard to leave a solid school system, a house almost paid for, with a yard, and NO HOA. However, jobs were just not there  More

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Over 11 years ago

My introduction to Apex, NC came in July 2009 I was on my way to Florida. On the third day, plans changed due to friend's vehicle malfunction. I stayed in Apex for 9  More

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Over 14 years ago

Apex has a small town atmosphere, but is convenient to the Research Triangle area of North  More

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Reviews for Santa Monica    24 Reviews

I moved here to Santa Monica over 10 years ago from Oklahoma City. I was surprised to see that Oklahoma City was ranked higher than Santa Monica on best places. I  More

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I've lived in Santa Monica for over 30 years. It's a Mediterranean climate--sunny and temperate when the rest of the country is under snow! I am walking distance to  More

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I have lived in this city for 4 decades, and it is never been worse than it is now. It is a dangerous disgusting hell hole. Between the crime, the homeless that are not  More

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