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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Petaluma or is it cheaper to live in Novato?
- Petaluma is 34.0% less expensive than Novato.

Which city has more affordable housing, Petaluma or Novato?
- Petaluma housing costs are 19.8% less expensive than Novato housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Novato or is Health Care more affordable in Petaluma.
- Health related expenses are 0.2% more in Petaluma.
 Novato, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.8100
 Food & Groceries111.9  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock110.3100
 Housing351.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$839,600$338,100
 Utilities95  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock113.1100
 Miscellaneous164.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Novato    9 Reviews

Lush hills, hiking trails, and easy access to both wine country and San Francisco. We love it here.  More

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Over 10 years ago

Novato is a family oriented community located about 20 miles north of the Golden Gate bridge. The quality of life is excellent here assuming your job pays you enough to  More

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Over 11 years ago

We recently moved to a secluded neighborhood in Novato after 25 years in central Marin. While there are fewer restaurants and galleries, we are very pleased with our  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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