2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Petaluma, CA vs Scotts Valley, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Scotts Valley or is it cheaper to live in Petaluma?
- Scotts Valley is 22.5% more expensive than Petaluma.

Which city has more affordable housing, Scotts Valley or Petaluma?
- Scotts Valley housing costs are 42.7% more expensive than Petaluma housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Petaluma or is Health Care more affordable in Scotts Valley.
- Health related expenses are 1.0% less in Scotts Valley.
 Petaluma, CAScotts Valley, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries110.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing281.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,132,400$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock117.0100
 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 Scotts Valley    4 Reviews

Over 2 years ago

We lived and worked in Scotts Valley for a number of years. It's a nice enough city, safe and clean unlike some areas of Santa Cruz. It's well managed and the schools  More

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Over 7 years ago

Great weather and small town feel but it is changing rapidly  More

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Over 11 years ago

Scotts Valley is an ideal, small town with many wonderful features. It's just 10 minutes from the beaches in nearby Santa Cruz yet doesn't get the wet fog because it's  More

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