2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Tahoe Vista, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Tahoe Vista or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Tahoe Vista is 25.1% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Tahoe Vista or Santa Cruz?
- Tahoe Vista housing costs are 38.3% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Tahoe Vista.
- Health related expenses are 18.9% more in Tahoe Vista.
 Santa Cruz, CATahoe Vista, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock139.3100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock129.8100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$792,700$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock104.3100
 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 Tahoe Vista    3 Reviews

This mountain neighborhood is minutes from Northstar At Tahoe or in the opposite direction, minutes from Lake Tahoe. Tahoe Vista is located on the north shore of Lake  More

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Over 13 years ago

Amazing place to live. I moved here in high school and everyone was super kind and treated me with the nicest attitude. No cliques, kind of, which is way different from  More

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Over 18 years ago

If you've ever visited then you know there's no place like it on earth. The best of winter activities: skiing, snowboarding, snow shoeing, sledding and the list goes  More

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