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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Cambria or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Cambria is 21.5% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Cambria or Santa Cruz?
- Cambria housing costs are 28.5% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Cambria.
- Health related expenses are 0.3% less in Cambria.
 Santa Cruz, CACambria, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock146.1100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock108.9100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$959,200$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock92.2100
 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 Cambria    2 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

This is a wonderful school with lots of teachers who care about students. Because of the small size (about 300) , students and parents really know one another. The  More

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Over 19 years ago

I visit Cambria, CA one week out of every year, ever since I was little. It's a great place to get away from it all. It's beautiful with pine trees that meet the sea.  More

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