2026 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Clara, CA vs Castro Valley, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Castro Valley or is it cheaper to live in Santa Clara?
- Castro Valley is 15.4% less expensive than Santa Clara.

Which city has more affordable housing, Castro Valley or Santa Clara?
- Castro Valley housing costs are 26.3% less expensive than Santa Clara housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Clara or is Health Care more affordable in Castro Valley.
- Health related expenses are 8.4% more in Castro Valley.
 Santa Clara, CACastro Valley, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock195.5100
 Food & Groceries115.9  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock116.8100
 Housing503.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,047,800$338,100
 Utilities86  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock125.5100
 Miscellaneous155.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Santa Clara    14 Reviews

Larry · 

Santa Clara, CA and the city government are great. The city has been for the most part very good to me. I grew up in Santa Clara and now that I have been away for two  More

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I have lived in Santa Clara California most of my life so I consider myself to be an expert. The climate is wonderful. The price of housing is way above the national  More

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Over 11 years ago

Good Central Park and activities; City-owned power company provides lower cost power; home to many high-tech companies; city is  More

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Reviews for Castro Valley    7 Reviews

CURMUDGEON - THANK YOU for your post. The most important part of your comment is your second paragraph. "Hodge-Podge" is the correct word for a lot of Castro  More

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Over 12 years ago

Kind of rural but close to Oakland and San  More

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Castro Valley is the largest unincorporated "city" in the Bay Area. Over the years, several attempts have been made to incorporate, but they have all been defeated at  More

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