2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Minneapolis, MN vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Minneapolis?
- Santa Cruz is 73.5% more expensive than Minneapolis.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Minneapolis?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 271.0% more expensive than Minneapolis housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Minneapolis or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 44.1% more in Santa Cruz.
 Minneapolis, MNSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries101.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing113.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities100  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous144.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Minneapolis    163 Reviews

Lived here since 2007. Great city. I would’ve gave it 5 stars but the winter weather ??. Great for many, I’m burned out on it. We’re the coldest major city in the US and  More

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It’s not Minnesota nice, it’s sardonic.. we know you’re full of **** but we will play along for a while, make you uncomfortable for attempting to pull one over on us..  More

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Over 4 years ago

I lived in Minneapolis (or St. Paul or Stillwater) for 20 years. Minneapolis is a very livable city. It has quality museums, good transportation, excellent healthcare,  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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