2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Chapel Hill, NC vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Chapel Hill?
- Santa Cruz is 72.5% more expensive than Chapel Hill.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Chapel Hill?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 167.1% more expensive than Chapel Hill housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Chapel Hill or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 6.5% more in Santa Cruz.
 Chapel Hill, NCSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries103.9  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing157.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities101  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous113.3  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Chapel Hill    16 Reviews

Between my wife and I, we've lived in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, and Chapel Hill, and it's Chapel Hill we prefer. Franklin Street is always lively with an eclectic mix of  More

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I am not sure if Bert has actually been to the Triangle, but for starters, Durham, as Chapel Hill residents know and envy, is and has been for 5 yrs now a vibrant  More

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someone told me they live in the hills/mountains right near chapel hill, and the summers are much cooler there, while the town itself is easily accessible. is this  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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