2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Palo Alto, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Palo Alto?
- Santa Cruz is 19.5% less expensive than Palo Alto.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Palo Alto?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 63.1% less expensive than Palo Alto housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Palo Alto or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 1.4% more in Santa Cruz.
 Palo Alto, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries124.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing1,139.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities90  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 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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Start Your Review of Palo Alto

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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