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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Lexington is 51.2% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Lexington or Santa Cruz?
- Lexington housing costs are 80.5% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Lexington.
- Health related expenses are 8.1% less in Lexington.
 Santa Cruz, CALexington, KYUnited States
 Overall  Unlock90.8100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock100.4100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$260,300$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock87.5100
 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 Lexington    62 Reviews

Lexington is a beautiful city. There are tons of tree lined streets and even trees in both sides of the city's only freeway. It's relatively small, which can be both  More

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Over 4 years ago

Very beautiful/underrated city!!  More

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I have lived here now for over five years, originally from the west coast and here is my top 10 for why you should NOT move here. #1 The Culture: They have none, it  More

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