2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Palo Alto, CA vs Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Carmel-by-the-Sea or is it cheaper to live in Palo Alto?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea is 34.2% less expensive than Palo Alto.

Which city has more affordable housing, Carmel-by-the-Sea or Palo Alto?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea housing costs are 42.8% less expensive than Palo Alto housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Palo Alto or is Health Care more affordable in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- Health related expenses are 33.4% more in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
 Palo Alto, CACarmel-by-the-Sea, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.9100
 Food & Groceries124.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock143.7100
 Housing1,139.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,916,200$338,100
 Utilities90  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock103.7100
 Miscellaneous156.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Palo Alto    8 Reviews

The Bay Area in general, but Palo Alto specifically provides many of the qualities sought by many; the climate is beautiful, there is access to cultural and recreational  More

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Over 17 years ago

Very  More

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Over 18 years ago

VTA and SamsTrans and Caltrain all provide good service and most times frequency of service is  More

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Reviews for Carmel-By-The-Sea    3 Reviews

Over 9 years ago

Climate, cost &  More

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carmel has about 60 vacation homes and a dense cottage-y downtown. basically it is a tourist trap cental business district and a bunch of vacation rental homes. the  More

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Over 17 years ago

Liberals have run me out of town. The political is so overwhelming I am looking to relocate. However, if you are an aging hippie with a great deal of money you will be  More

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