2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Carmel, IN vs Carlsbad, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Carlsbad or is it cheaper to live in Carmel?
- Carlsbad is 46.1% more expensive than Carmel.

Which city has more affordable housing, Carlsbad or Carmel?
- Carlsbad housing costs are 160.9% more expensive than Carmel housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Carmel or is Health Care more affordable in Carlsbad.
- Health related expenses are 10.6% less in Carlsbad.
 Carmel, INCarlsbad, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.9100
 Food & Groceries101.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock89.0100
 Housing150.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,320,200$338,100
 Utilities90  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock125.6100
 Miscellaneous132.5  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Carmel    26 Reviews

I moved to Carmel from France and I lived there for 20 years. I moved to Indianapolis recently (I miss Carmel). I liked Carmel because it is clean, safe, pretty, it has  More

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This place has just about every corporate chain hotel imaginable. I come for business, and it is a nice place to do business. Carmel seems to sucking the corporate  More

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Over 10 years ago

Carmel is hands down the best place to live in  More

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Reviews for Carlsbad    38 Reviews

I've lived in Carlsbad (92008) for 8 years now and really appreciate all that it has to offer. Yes, ALL of San Diego County is expensive, but Carlsbad has [possibly]  More

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Over 4 years ago

Carlson has the worst winters. It averages about 10 meters of snow per week. Every shop is  More

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Ok, I get it, the climate is mild and tolerable but even that is over-rated when you consider how many cloudy days there are in this town. The sun coming out at 3 and  More

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