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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Foster City or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Foster City is 34.4% more expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Foster City or Santa Cruz?
- Foster City housing costs are 46.8% more expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Foster City.
- Health related expenses are 7.5% more in Foster City.
 Santa Cruz, CAFoster City, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock250.0100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock117.4100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,653,900$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock148.6100
 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 Foster City    4 Reviews

Over 17 years ago

Built on lagoons, great climate, good schools, lots of soccer and other sports for kids, plenty of parking and  More

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Over 18 years ago

A great city to raise a family, safe, great weather around the year, good schools and plenty of recreation. But only if you can afford the hight cost of  More

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Landlords are able to command and receive high rent due to the following attributes: safety, weather and cleanliness of Foster City. The lagoon, waterways and gardens  More

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