2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Rancho Santa Margarita, 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 Rancho Santa Margarita?
- Santa Cruz is 12.8% more expensive than Rancho Santa Margarita.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Rancho Santa Margarita?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 58.8% more expensive than Rancho Santa Margarita housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Rancho Santa Margarita or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 16.9% more in Santa Cruz.
 Rancho Santa Margarita, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries103.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing265.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities111  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous155.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Rancho Santa Margarita    13 Reviews

This page provides little information on RSM. I see they keep describing the area as "outside of Los Angeles." Culturally, it is so far from Los Angeles (I lived in LA,  More

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Over 10 years ago

The weather here is amazing. We get a few hot days in the summer but it cools down in the evening. I love being able to sleep with the windows  More

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This is the best place to live in South Orange County with mild temperatures, low crime, great schools and family orientated. RSM is a city that sits in a pocket backing  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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