2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Nags Head, NC vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Nags Head?
- Santa Cruz is 71.6% more expensive than Nags Head.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Nags Head?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 175.5% more expensive than Nags Head housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Nags Head or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 16.1% less in Santa Cruz.
 Nags Head, NCSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries102.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing152.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities98  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous114.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Nags Head    2 Reviews

Over 10 years ago

what is the cost to living at the  More

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Over 16 years ago

In your facts about Avon, NC you have it's location being in Hyde County. In reality, Avon, NC is in Dare County. Carolyn Honeycutt Avon, NC  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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