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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Monica or is it cheaper to live in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
- Santa Monica is 6.5% more expensive than Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Monica or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
- Santa Monica housing costs are 4.6% 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 Santa Monica.
- Health related expenses are 37.2% less in Santa Monica.
 Carmel-by-the-Sea, CASanta Monica, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock161.7100
 Food & Groceries118.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock90.2100
 Housing651.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,656,900$338,100
 Utilities87  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock154.8100
 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 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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