2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA vs Petaluma, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Petaluma or is it cheaper to live in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
- Petaluma is 0.1% less expensive than Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Which city has more affordable housing, Petaluma or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
- Petaluma housing costs are 56.8% less expensive than Carmel-by-the-Sea housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Carmel-by-the-Sea or is Health Care more affordable in Petaluma.
- Health related expenses are 23.2% less in Petaluma.
 Carmel-by-the-Sea, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.8100
 Food & Groceries118.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock110.3100
 Housing651.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$839,600$338,100
 Utilities87  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock113.1100
 Miscellaneous112.1  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Carmel-By-The-Sea    3 Reviews

Over 9 years ago

Climate, cost &  More

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carmel has about 60 vacation homes and a dense cottage-y downtown. basically it is a tourist trap cental business district and a bunch of vacation rental homes. the  More

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Over 17 years ago

Liberals have run me out of town. The political is so overwhelming I am looking to relocate. However, if you are an aging hippie with a great deal of money you will be  More

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Reviews for Petaluma    16 Reviews

I agree with the low star reviews. Been here for 25 years, raised a family and seen everything turn to the left and worse. Weather is glorious, love the old Victorians  More

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We’ve lived here for 3 years and we love it. It has taken some time to grow on us. We moved from SF where we had lived over 15 years, we were not used to one year leases  More

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I’ve lived here a couple of years (after living in others parts of the Bay Area for 15+ years) and I love it! Great neighborhoods, friendly folks, good schools with  More

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