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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in San Anselmo or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- San Anselmo is 23.7% more expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, San Anselmo or Santa Cruz?
- San Anselmo housing costs are 27.7% more expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in San Anselmo.
- Health related expenses are 0.8% more in San Anselmo.
 Santa Cruz, CASan Anselmo, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock230.1100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock110.1100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,502,300$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock127.6100
 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 San Anselmo    3 Reviews

I've lived here for over forty five years and I can't wait to leave! The cost of living is ridiculous and, though the statistics about population growth always appear  More

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We love, love, love San Anselmo. It has great schools, is very walkable/bikeable, is not a far walk or bike from that funky town of Fairfax, everyone is friendly! Very  More

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Over 18 years ago

We love it here, but the cost of housing is astronomical, and has us rethinking whether we can stay here much longer. Considering first mortgage, second mortgage and  More

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