Home / Select Cities  /  2024 Comparing Santa Cruz, CA vs. Tucson, AZ

2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Tucson, AZ

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Tucson or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Tucson is 47.8% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Tucson or Santa Cruz?
- Tucson housing costs are 77.8% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Tucson.
- Health related expenses are 21.8% less in Tucson.
 Santa Cruz, CATucson, AZUnited States
 Overall186.097.0100
 Food & Groceries111.595.5100
 Health109.285.4100
 Housing420.793.2100
 Median Home Cost$1,270,800$303,400$338,100
 Utilities9,350.0%9,940.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation110.596.6100
 Miscellaneous155.798.6100

100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

View More Data >

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

   |    Reply

Over 4 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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Cruz

Reviews for Tucson    286 Reviews

I was reading the reviews for Tucson, and after living there for 6 years, I feel the need to weigh in. There are many pros in Tucson: access to recreational areas,  More

   |    Reply

I spend considerable time in and around Tucson, and I've see it rapidly going "downhill" since 2020. It's definitely not the nice town I remember from when I was a  More

   |    Reply

Almost eight years and this place still hasn't grown on me. Or my spouse. The summers are oppressive, and the winters (thanks, climate change!) are now wet even though  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Tucson

 Most Recent Searches On Compare Cities
COMPARE COST OF LIVING
Compare Santa Cruz, California Cost of Living vs Tucson, Arizona Cost of Living: Taxes, Childcare, Groceries, Health...
Compare Now


ZIPS IN SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA
95060 95064
ZIPS IN TUCSON, ARIZONA
85710, 85706, 85705, 85719, 85713, 85756, 85711, 85730, 85745, 85712, 21 total

PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION

Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.

Try Now