2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Carmel-by-the-Sea or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea is 18.3% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Carmel-by-the-Sea or Santa Cruz?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea housing costs are 54.9% more expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- Health related expenses are 31.6% more in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
 Santa Cruz, CACarmel-by-the-Sea, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.9100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock143.7100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,916,200$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock103.7100
 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 Carmel-By-The-Sea    3 Reviews

Over 9 years ago

Climate, cost &  More

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carmel has about 60 vacation homes and a dense cottage-y downtown. basically it is a tourist trap cental business district and a bunch of vacation rental homes. the  More

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Over 17 years ago

Liberals have run me out of town. The political is so overwhelming I am looking to relocate. However, if you are an aging hippie with a great deal of money you will be  More

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