2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Shady Cove, OR

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Shady Cove or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Shady Cove is 43.0% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Shady Cove or Santa Cruz?
- Shady Cove housing costs are 70.0% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Shady Cove.
- Health related expenses are 3.6% less in Shady Cove.
 Santa Cruz, CAShady Cove, ORUnited States
 Overall  Unlock106.1100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock105.3100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$373,500$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock85.2100
 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 Shady Cove    3 Reviews

Great small town on Rogue River. Tourist town fishing & rafting! Beatuiful mountains and river. People are very frienfly. 20 miles from Medford that has 2 great  More

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Over 9 years ago

Does Shady Cove have much rain? And what about  More

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Shady Cove has been my home for the last 18 years. Its a tiny community located on the banks of the Rogue River. Lovely homes line the river, deer and turkeys meander  More

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