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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Aspen or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Aspen is 18.5% more expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Aspen or Santa Cruz?
- Aspen housing costs are 83.0% more expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Aspen.
- Health related expenses are 26.0% less in Aspen.
 Santa Cruz, CAAspen, COUnited States
 Overall  Unlock220.4100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock80.8100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$2,994,800$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock77.8100
 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 Aspen    6 Reviews

Over 12 years ago

I've been living in valley for 6 years. I've moved here from right before crisis. It's good place to make money for young people, yeah..it still is. Though when I  More

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Over 12 years ago

beautiful cold and dry weather. Colorful  More

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In Winter the grocery store closest to the ski lifts is so packed full of people it is really difficult to move through the store, especially if you have a cart. It  More

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