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2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Berkeley, 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 Berkeley?
- Santa Cruz is 4.9% less expensive than Berkeley.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Berkeley?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 19.3% less expensive than Berkeley housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Berkeley or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 6.5% less in Santa Cruz.
 Berkeley, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall195.5186.0100
 Food & Groceries114.0111.5100
 Health116.8109.2100
 Housing521.0420.7100
 Median Home Cost$1,320,600$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities9,130.0%9,350.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation118.7110.5100
 Miscellaneous158.4155.7100

100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Berkeley    14 Reviews

Have lived in Berkeley for about 35 years now. Housing/Real Estate: If you're looking to move here, $1,000,000 will get you a small cottage in the "flats". Most of  More

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Over 11 years ago

We have the best climate -- summers and winters are mild. Lots of  More

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Over 13 years ago

The 60's have left Berkeley and now it is about MONEY...and the people there have plenty of it and nice hybrid cars (looks like 2 per household) and with a great bicycle  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 4 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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ZIPS IN BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA
94704 94703 94702 94705 94707 94709 94708 94710 94720
ZIPS IN SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA
95060 95064

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