2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Wenatchee, WA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Wenatchee or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Wenatchee is 42.2% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Wenatchee or Santa Cruz?
- Wenatchee housing costs are 68.2% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Wenatchee.
- Health related expenses are 14.0% less in Wenatchee.
 Santa Cruz, CAWenatchee, WAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock107.6100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock93.9100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$424,200$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock80.3100
 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 Wenatchee    10 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

This is a wonderful place to live. Lots of sun, and Winters are not as cold as the East coast. With an enormous, thriving and escalating diversity of people, and  More

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Over 8 years ago

I grew up in Seattle and spend most of my life there. As much as I love the Seattle area I've always felt the need to leave my home town to explore new horizons.  More

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Over 12 years ago

As my main residence is in Oceanside Ca. I stay in E. Wenatchee 3 to 4 months a year (spring/summer) I can say that Wenatchee is an expensive place to live...yes more  More

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