2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Cedar Falls, IA vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Cedar Falls?
- Santa Cruz is 145.7% more expensive than Cedar Falls.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Cedar Falls?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 524.2% more expensive than Cedar Falls housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Cedar Falls or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 4.2% more in Santa Cruz.
 Cedar Falls, IASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries97.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing67.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities98  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous105.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Cedar Falls    7 Reviews

Over 8 years ago

I lived in Cedar Falls while attending the University of Northern Iowa. It's a great college town. Main street is nice and there are plenty of restaurants to choose  More

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Over 12 years ago

We've lived in Cedar Falls since moving here from the great chicago land area in 2006. The school system in Cedar Falls and in Iowa in general if VERY strong.   More

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When I was preparing to moved to Cedar Falls, IA I was repeatedly met with the remark "IOWA!, what's there? corn?" But apart from the bitter winters, tornadoes, and  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 5 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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