2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Elk Grove, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Elk Grove?
- Santa Cruz is 46.2% more expensive than Elk Grove.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Elk Grove?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 117.5% more expensive than Elk Grove housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Elk Grove or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 5.0% more in Santa Cruz.
 Elk Grove, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries106.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing193.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities95  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous129.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Elk Grove    15 Reviews

I grew up in the area around Elk Grove and it was a very small rural town up to the year 2000. We moved to ELk grove in 2009 and commuted to work in Sacramento. At  More

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Elk Grove is a very diverse city. A long time ago it use to be very white. Now the white population is about 40%, then next majority race are Asian, then Hispanic,  More

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Over 11 years ago

Our neighborhood is o.k. but it is expensive to live here and the air is oppressive during the summer when it gets hot for a week or more. Days over 95 and nights of 75.  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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