2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Pasadena, 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 Pasadena?
- Santa Cruz is 15.0% more expensive than Pasadena.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Pasadena?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 23.6% more expensive than Pasadena housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Pasadena or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 26.0% more in Santa Cruz.
 Pasadena, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries104.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing340.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities101  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous133.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Pasadena    19 Reviews

Pasadena is a little slice of the world in the foothills above the San Gabriel Valley. It has everything you could want. Check out my video on the cost of living in  More

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Over 10 years ago

The weather in Pasadena, CA is rather pleasant. It does not get cold here, it used to be around the first two weeks of December it could go down to 32-28 F, only a few  More

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Over 11 years ago

Great place to live for all ages and enjoy mostly sunny  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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