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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Palo Alto or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Palo Alto is 24.2% more expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Palo Alto or Santa Cruz?
- Palo Alto housing costs are 170.9% more expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Palo Alto.
- Health related expenses are 1.4% less in Palo Alto.
 Santa Cruz, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock231.0100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock107.7100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$3,107,600$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock140.6100
 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 Palo Alto    8 Reviews

The Bay Area in general, but Palo Alto specifically provides many of the qualities sought by many; the climate is beautiful, there is access to cultural and recreational  More

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Over 17 years ago

Very  More

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Over 18 years ago

VTA and SamsTrans and Caltrain all provide good service and most times frequency of service is  More

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