2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Salem, OR vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Salem?
- Santa Cruz is 78.8% more expensive than Salem.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Salem?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 246.3% more expensive than Salem housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Salem or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 17.7% more in Santa Cruz.
 Salem, ORSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries100.3  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing121.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities79  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous103.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Salem    37 Reviews

After reading the reviews here, I had to come write my own. The problem I had with most of the reviews is that most were very opinion-based and seemed to assume everyone  More

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Moved here approx. 4 years ago from SW Michigan, but I've lived in 9 other cities & 5 other states. Salem is a very manageable sized city, with tons of parks, diverse  More

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Over 5 years ago

I'm a native 5th generation Oregonian, so bear in mind that I was born with webs between my toes! Anyway, I used to think it rained too much when I was young. Then I  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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