2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Federal Way, WA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Federal Way or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Federal Way is 15.0% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Federal Way or Santa Cruz?
- Federal Way housing costs are 58.0% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Federal Way.
- Health related expenses are 19.2% less in Federal Way.
 Santa Cruz, CAFederal Way, WAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock158.1100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock88.2100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$542,500$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock148.7100
 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 Federal Way    14 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

A suburb of The Emerald City (Seattle, WA), Federal Way has become yet another go-to place for affluent travelers and transplants from states all over the nation. The  More

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I want to move my family to austin i havent bin there but we want some ware housing is affortable i have four boys age 6,3,2 and a baby of 2 months and ware theres jobs  More

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I have lived in Brooklyn NY, West Palm Beach & Port St Lucie, FL and now Federal Way, WA. While the cost of living here is higher than Florida, it is definitely lower  More

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