2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Cruz, CA vs West Lafayette, IN

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in West Lafayette or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- West Lafayette is 55.1% less expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, West Lafayette or Santa Cruz?
- West Lafayette housing costs are 76.9% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in West Lafayette.
- Health related expenses are 15.8% less in West Lafayette.
 Santa Cruz, CAWest Lafayette, INUnited States
 Overall  Unlock83.5100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock92.0100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$306,000$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock70.5100
 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 West Lafayette    11 Reviews

I am originally from Greencastle, Indiana, a nice friendly rural town and home to DePauw University. Presently, I live in West Lafayette, Indiana, due to my having been  More

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Over 11 years ago

It's a nice small town. It's too bad it's not closer to Indy. I think I would like it here  More

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Over 14 years ago

They have good schools, parks and always have events to  More

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