2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA vs Scottsdale, AZ

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Scottsdale or is it cheaper to live in Rancho Santa Margarita?
- Scottsdale is 31.5% less expensive than Rancho Santa Margarita.

Which city has more affordable housing, Scottsdale or Rancho Santa Margarita?
- Scottsdale housing costs are 12.9% less expensive than Rancho Santa Margarita housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Rancho Santa Margarita or is Health Care more affordable in Scottsdale.
- Health related expenses are 1.0% less in Scottsdale.
 Rancho Santa Margarita, CAScottsdale, AZUnited States
 Overall  Unlock113.0100
 Food & Groceries103.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock92.5100
 Housing265.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$721,200$338,100
 Utilities111  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock109.2100
 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 Scottsdale    84 Reviews

It's been a long time since I visited Scottsdale after visiting a few times a decade ago. It used to be more of an area that deserved it's punchlines for being stuck up  More

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Over 1 years ago

My son went to ASU in '99 which is how we ended up here from Northern Illinois. Over the years we came out for vacations and bought a second home until we finally made  More

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I lived in San Jose for 30 years...in the late '50s. I walked thru cherry orchards to school. After college classes, I drove 20 minutes to the beach. San Francisco was  More

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