2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Ridgecrest, CA vs Monterey, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Monterey or is it cheaper to live in Ridgecrest?
- Monterey is 52.2% more expensive than Ridgecrest.

Which city has more affordable housing, Monterey or Ridgecrest?
- Monterey housing costs are 303.0% more expensive than Ridgecrest housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Ridgecrest or is Health Care more affordable in Monterey.
- Health related expenses are 55.0% more in Monterey.
 Ridgecrest, CAMonterey, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.9100
 Food & Groceries98.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock143.7100
 Housing82.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,022,100$338,100
 Utilities120  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock92.1100
 Miscellaneous110.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Ridgecrest    7 Reviews

For context, I grew up in Ridgecrest and moved away after graduating high school. I have since lived in LA and the Bay Area but I visit RC often. RC is in the high  More

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Ridgecrest and Kern County are red state bastions in a land of blue voting counties. If you want a concealed weapons permit, you'll get it. Want to own any firearm  More

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Over 13 years ago

The hardest thing to get used to in Ridgecrest is the weather. It can get quite windy. And hot. 115 hot. But it's a dry heat! It does cool off in the evening, and it  More

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Reviews for Monterey    21 Reviews

Over 8 years ago

The Monterey city area is an excellent place to live and one of the few California locales where it's relatively safe to raise a family. If I could no longer live here I  More

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I grew up on the Monterey Peninsula and had to leave to climb out of poverty. The median income is $35,000 and outside of the military, the jobs are mostly service  More

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My husband and I are just crazy about Monterey. I wonder if we take housing expenses (mortgage or rent) out of the picture, is Monterey still a very expensive city to  More

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