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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Montecito or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Montecito is 16.8% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Montecito or Santa Cruz?
- Montecito housing costs are 219.0% more expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Montecito.
- Health related expenses are 3.7% more in Montecito.
 Santa Cruz, CAMontecito, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.7100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock113.2100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$4,076,000$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock100.8100
 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 Montecito    1 Reviews

I lived in Montecito for 7 years up-to 2020. Everything is sooo over priced, Contractors rip you off, one contractor tried to charge me $800 just to clean the Windows  More

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