2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Petaluma, CA vs Columbia, MD

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or is it cheaper to live in Petaluma?
- Columbia is 15.7% less expensive than Petaluma.

Which city has more affordable housing, Columbia or Petaluma?
- Columbia housing costs are 49.3% less expensive than Petaluma housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Petaluma or is Health Care more affordable in Columbia.
- Health related expenses are 21.6% less in Columbia.
 Petaluma, CAColumbia, MDUnited States
 Overall  Unlock127.9100
 Food & Groceries110.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock86.5100
 Housing281.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$441,800$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock107.9100
 Miscellaneous153.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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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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Reviews for Columbia    28 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

Lived here for a while, beautiful opportunities, pays well, overall nice  More

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Been here 30 years was great at first but once they added a transit bus from baltimore to columbia 15-18 years ago that was the beginning of the end. And about 5 years  More

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Columbia can be described in one word: unequal. The neighborhood I live in, River Hill, is jam-packed with almost million-dollar homes, while the neighborhoods of Long  More

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