2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Anchorage, AK

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Anchorage is 37.9% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Anchorage or Santa Cruz?
- Anchorage housing costs are 72.2% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Anchorage.
- Health related expenses are 14.8% more in Anchorage.
 Santa Cruz, CAAnchorage, AKUnited States
 Overall  Unlock115.5100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock125.4100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$344,400$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock104.6100
 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 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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Reviews for Anchorage    83 Reviews

Over 1 years ago

Anchorage had potential but with the massive amount of homeless the petty crime is on the rise. I chose to live in a town outside of Anchorage rather than the city for  More

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I lived in Anchorage for the better part of the 2010's. Pros: o Beautiful, mountain and ocean views; close to many hiking trails, campsites, fishing grounds,  More

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it's nice, i liked it when i grew up there. kinda wish i could move back, but i didn't really like being isolated from all the things like nordstrom, trader joe's,  More

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