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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Monica or is it cheaper to live in Petaluma?
- Santa Monica is 6.5% more expensive than Petaluma.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Monica or Petaluma?
- Santa Monica housing costs are 120.8% more expensive than Petaluma housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Petaluma or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Monica.
- Health related expenses are 18.2% less in Santa Monica.
 Petaluma, CASanta Monica, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock161.7100
 Food & Groceries110.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock90.2100
 Housing281.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,656,900$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock154.8100
 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 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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