2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lafayette, CO vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Lafayette?
- Santa Cruz is 31.6% more expensive than Lafayette.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Lafayette?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 99.6% more expensive than Lafayette housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lafayette or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 27.7% more in Santa Cruz.
 Lafayette, COSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries103.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing210.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities98  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous155.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Lafayette    2 Reviews

The City of Lafayette is trying to be attractive and desirable, so that's something. Being on the outskirts of Boulder and metro Denver has the benefits of quick access  More

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can't say enough good things about Lafayette - it is next to Louisville CO which has been voted the best place to live by Money Magazine.   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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