2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Iowa City, 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 Iowa City?
- Santa Cruz is 107.6% more expensive than Iowa City.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Iowa City?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 434.6% more expensive than Iowa City housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Iowa City or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 5.0% more in Santa Cruz.
 Iowa City, IASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries99.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing78.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous117.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Iowa City    24 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

I was there 5 years. Nothing to do but we’ll go shopping... at Walmart. It lacks so many things. There is no experience here, it jumps on any political band wagon and  More

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Over 5 years ago

Entertainment lacks greatly - especially the Hancher shows. I was hoping after they rebuilt they would be getting better shows there, that didn't happen. One has to  More

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Over 7 years ago

Iowa City is great. It's diverse and never boring. There always a variety of new shops and restaurants to explore and try out. Also watching college kids do stupid  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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