2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Olympia, WA vs Santa Monica, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Monica or is it cheaper to live in Olympia?
- Santa Monica is 44.2% more expensive than Olympia.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Monica or Olympia?
- Santa Monica housing costs are 300.3% more expensive than Olympia housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Olympia or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Monica.
- Health related expenses are 3.6% more in Santa Monica.
 Olympia, WASanta Monica, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock161.7100
 Food & Groceries101.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock90.2100
 Housing155.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,656,900$338,100
 Utilities74  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock154.8100
 Miscellaneous143.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Olympia    39 Reviews

We moved here from Kitsap Bremerton/Silverdale WA area and this beats it all the way in all material ways. The only reason not to give it 5 stars is the cost of  More

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Over 4 years ago

The city is horrible. The business have been chased out by homeless. The city government makes it for difficult for businesses to thrive. If you like what Seattle is  More

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Having lived all over the world we decided to retire in Olympia and live on the Puget Sound. Yes it rains but the weather can change dramatically in a day with sun and  More

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Reviews for Santa Monica    24 Reviews

I moved here to Santa Monica over 10 years ago from Oklahoma City. I was surprised to see that Oklahoma City was ranked higher than Santa Monica on best places. I  More

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I've lived in Santa Monica for over 30 years. It's a Mediterranean climate--sunny and temperate when the rest of the country is under snow! I am walking distance to  More

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I have lived in this city for 4 decades, and it is never been worse than it is now. It is a dangerous disgusting hell hole. Between the crime, the homeless that are not  More

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