2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lancaster, CA vs Petaluma, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Petaluma or is it cheaper to live in Lancaster?
- Petaluma is 6.1% less expensive than Lancaster.

Which city has more affordable housing, Petaluma or Lancaster?
- Petaluma housing costs are 113.2% more expensive than Lancaster housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lancaster or is Health Care more affordable in Petaluma.
- Health related expenses are 24.1% more in Petaluma.
 Lancaster, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.8100
 Food & Groceries98.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock110.3100
 Housing132.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$839,600$338,100
 Utilities116  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock113.1100
 Miscellaneous133.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Lancaster    48 Reviews

Worse than even Compton in some ways... worse than hell overall. This place is so bad you will want to off yourself every day just by being here, but probably not too  More

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Over 5 years ago

I was born here, then grew up here for 17 years and joined the Army as a teen, but constantly went back to visit my parents and friends. I lived there again for 4 years  More

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Over 7 years ago

Moved to the Eastside of Lancaster. I have target, lowes, the whole wheatery, homedepot, bank of America, wells Fargo, Walmart, traders Joe's, Carl's jr, burger king,  More

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Reviews for Petaluma    16 Reviews

I agree with the low star reviews. Been here for 25 years, raised a family and seen everything turn to the left and worse. Weather is glorious, love the old Victorians  More

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We’ve lived here for 3 years and we love it. It has taken some time to grow on us. We moved from SF where we had lived over 15 years, we were not used to one year leases  More

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I’ve lived here a couple of years (after living in others parts of the Bay Area for 15+ years) and I love it! Great neighborhoods, friendly folks, good schools with  More

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