2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Phoenix, AZ vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Phoenix?
- Santa Cruz is 64.6% more expensive than Phoenix.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Phoenix?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 254.7% more expensive than Phoenix housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Phoenix or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 18.1% more in Santa Cruz.
 Phoenix, AZSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries97.3  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing118.6  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities102  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous105.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Phoenix    449 Reviews

Over 1 years ago

As someone that has worked in Phoenix for close to 20 years now. There is great areas to eat at, great opportunities for premium small businesses to set up shop and even  More

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Over 1 years ago

Phoenix is a city of potential and definitely has a bad reputation that is not completely deserved all throughout the city itself. There is tons of things to do, places  More

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Phoenix has tons of the best places to shop and eat at bar none due to it being the big city. Downtown is definitely underrated. There also is some nice new developments  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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