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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Scotts Valley or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Scotts Valley is 0.0% more expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Scotts Valley or Santa Cruz?
- Scotts Valley housing costs are 4.5% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Scotts Valley.
- Health related expenses are 0.0% less in Scotts Valley.
 Santa Cruz, CAScotts Valley, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,132,400$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock117.0100
 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 Scotts Valley    4 Reviews

Over 2 years ago

We lived and worked in Scotts Valley for a number of years. It's a nice enough city, safe and clean unlike some areas of Santa Cruz. It's well managed and the schools  More

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Over 7 years ago

Great weather and small town feel but it is changing rapidly  More

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Over 11 years ago

Scotts Valley is an ideal, small town with many wonderful features. It's just 10 minutes from the beaches in nearby Santa Cruz yet doesn't get the wet fog because it's  More

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