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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Arcadia or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Arcadia is 13.1% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Arcadia or Santa Cruz?
- Arcadia housing costs are 3.8% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Arcadia.
- Health related expenses are 20.6% less in Arcadia.
 Santa Cruz, CAArcadia, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock161.7100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock86.7100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,274,600$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock159.3100
 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 Arcadia    4 Reviews

Hi, We live in the city of Los Angeles, a total nightmare for us who lived in Texas for more than 5 years. We have job offers in both Arcadia, CA and in Round Rock  More

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Over 14 years ago

We like a neighborhood which has a lot tree and decent parks. Also, we prefer a place where are convient for restaurant, grocery, shopping mall, and library. Believe or  More

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Over 15 years ago

Arcadia has fairly good weather except for a few extra hot summer days. Rainy weather has been less over the last few years, so a bit of a drought exists. Air quality  More

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