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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Kernville or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Kernville is 46.3% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Kernville or Santa Cruz?
- Kernville housing costs are 79.1% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Kernville.
- Health related expenses are 15.1% less in Kernville.
 Santa Cruz, CAKernville, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock99.8100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock92.7100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$311,900$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock102.9100
 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 Kernville    3 Reviews

Kernville is the best kept secret in all of California. There is know place that I have ever lived, that could give me the peace and solitude that this beautiful little  More

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Over 13 years ago

it is nice to live  More

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Over 16 years ago

Kernville is at the bottom of the High Sierra Southernly Mountains. Quaint little resort town, on the Kern River. We have fishing, boating, hiking, camping and during  More

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