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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Aurora is 33.5% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Aurora or Santa Cruz?
- Aurora housing costs are 64.6% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Aurora.
- Health related expenses are 21.9% less in Aurora.
 Santa Cruz, CAAurora, COUnited States
 Overall  Unlock123.7100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock85.3100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$458,600$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock121.6100
 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 Aurora    40 Reviews

Over 1 years ago

Used to be affordable. I lived in aurora for 5 years and it was a great because I could drive to all the cool places in Denver and elsewhere. I was priced out  More

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It is ok. Not great. It used to be worth the cost (4/5 stars). The schools are mediocre, the people are hit or miss. People born here are friendly but  More

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Over 5 years ago

I've lived here for 10 years, and I gotta say, it's easily one of the most overpriced cities I've ever lived in. The cost of living makes it not worth it to live here,  More

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