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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Encinitas or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Encinitas is 16.7% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Encinitas or Santa Cruz?
- Encinitas housing costs are 18.7% more expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Encinitas.
- Health related expenses are 18.5% less in Encinitas.
 Santa Cruz, CAEncinitas, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.9100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock89.0100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,546,700$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock122.3100
 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 Encinitas    14 Reviews

I've lived in many different neighborhoods throughout San Diego over the years. They've all been coastal, from Pt. Loma, Pacific Beach, Del Mar, Solana Beach and  More

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Over 7 years ago

1. Horrible, nightmare traffic with lots of road rage drivers everywhere 2. Extremely high cost of living for small crappy houses / condos 3. Nothing to do, no  More

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Over 11 years ago

I have lived in many locations across the United States and the Caribbean and Encinitas is on my top list of places to live. The people are easy going and the pace  More

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