2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
La Mesa, CA vs Scotts Valley, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Scotts Valley or is it cheaper to live in La Mesa?
- Scotts Valley is 20.1% more expensive than La Mesa.

Which city has more affordable housing, Scotts Valley or La Mesa?
- Scotts Valley housing costs are 58.7% more expensive than La Mesa housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in La Mesa or is Health Care more affordable in Scotts Valley.
- Health related expenses are 22.7% more in Scotts Valley.
 La Mesa, CAScotts Valley, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries108.9  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing253.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,132,400$338,100
 Utilities107  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock117.0100
 Miscellaneous153.3  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for La Mesa    9 Reviews

The same San Diego prices and high taxes, but not the nice weather. 15 degrees hotter than the coast. Save the money and move to AZ if you like the climate in La Mesa.  More

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I now live in Wyoming but I was a third generation San Diegan, my maternal grandmother having been born on Coronado Island in 1894. If you are a new arrival to the  More

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I Need Correct Information I lived there Over 20 Years  More

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Reviews for Scotts Valley    4 Reviews

Over 2 years ago

We lived and worked in Scotts Valley for a number of years. It's a nice enough city, safe and clean unlike some areas of Santa Cruz. It's well managed and the schools  More

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Over 7 years ago

Great weather and small town feel but it is changing rapidly  More

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Over 11 years ago

Scotts Valley is an ideal, small town with many wonderful features. It's just 10 minutes from the beaches in nearby Santa Cruz yet doesn't get the wet fog because it's  More

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