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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Montrose or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Montrose is 48.7% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Montrose or Santa Cruz?
- Montrose housing costs are 73.5% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Montrose.
- Health related expenses are 26.2% less in Montrose.
 Santa Cruz, CAMontrose, COUnited States
 Overall  Unlock95.4100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock80.6100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$421,400$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock69.5100
 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 Montrose    23 Reviews

I've lived in the area for 4 yrs. First 2 in Ridgway. The positive is the City is growing which is bringing interesting development & tax revenue. The Montrose  More

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I was born in Montrose about 50 years ago and despite moving to Telluride, Denver, Ann Arbor, San Francisco and Chicago, I can’t find another place that makes me feel  More

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Okay so here’s the end all be all. If I could give this town a zero I would I came to visit my girlfriend from Denver and I considered moving out here despite being a  More

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