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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Fe or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Santa Fe is 39.8% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Fe or Santa Cruz?
- Santa Fe housing costs are 61.7% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Fe.
- Health related expenses are 24.7% less in Santa Fe.
 Santa Cruz, CASanta Fe, NMUnited States
 Overall  Unlock112.0100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock82.2100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$541,100$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock80.2100
 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 Santa Fe    55 Reviews

I’ve recently moved to Santa Fe from Colorado. I love Santa Fe for various reasons… mostly because of the tricultural aspects of it. We have amazing Native American,  More

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Over 6 years ago

Bought a house here in 2013 and split my time here with other house in Adirondack Mountains of NYS. Santa Fe is great, but not perfect. Love the climate. 306 days of  More

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Over 6 years ago

The only 2 things about Santa Fe that are nice is the scenery and the weather. But, those two things cannot bring about the total comfort and homeyness that makes a city  More

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