2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lake Havasu City, AZ vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Lake Havasu City?
- Santa Cruz is 85.8% more expensive than Lake Havasu City.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Lake Havasu City?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 220.4% more expensive than Lake Havasu City housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lake Havasu City or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 16.7% less in Santa Cruz.
 Lake Havasu City, AZSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries97.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing131.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities101  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous80.3  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Lake Havasu City    21 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

First I want to begin this review by saying I am a young black woman who stopped here for 1 day on her way to California with my husband, who is white. Every  More

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Over 4 years ago

Unfortunately, many on the far-right like to “claim” Lake Havasu City, but that’s going to change very soon as more Dems move in and help to build the economy and add  More

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My wife and I purchased last year for a few reasons: we got tired of the people in California; city living and crime. Not trying to insult anyone just true. As we  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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