2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Monica, CA vs Palm Springs, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Palm Springs or is it cheaper to live in Santa Monica?
- Palm Springs is 18.9% less expensive than Santa Monica.

Which city has more affordable housing, Palm Springs or Santa Monica?
- Palm Springs housing costs are 70.1% less expensive than Santa Monica housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Monica or is Health Care more affordable in Palm Springs.
- Health related expenses are 3.2% less in Palm Springs.
 Santa Monica, CAPalm Springs, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock131.2100
 Food & Groceries111.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock87.3100
 Housing622.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$619,300$338,100
 Utilities81  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock130.1100
 Miscellaneous133.5  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Santa Monica    24 Reviews

I moved here to Santa Monica over 10 years ago from Oklahoma City. I was surprised to see that Oklahoma City was ranked higher than Santa Monica on best places. I  More

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I've lived in Santa Monica for over 30 years. It's a Mediterranean climate--sunny and temperate when the rest of the country is under snow! I am walking distance to  More

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I have lived in this city for 4 decades, and it is never been worse than it is now. It is a dangerous disgusting hell hole. Between the crime, the homeless that are not  More

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Reviews for Palm Springs    12 Reviews

I lived in Palm Springs for 12 years and initially it appeared to be quite beautiful. The mountains are beautiful and palm trees, very stress-free and manageable.  More

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Over 5 years ago

14 years is plenty long enough. This is a nice place to visit, not live. In the last 20 years the air quality, especially in the summer has deteriorated considerably.  More

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Ghetto Crime City with lots of glitz... Police do nothing. Called 911 three times in a year: twice, no response. Provided the license plate of the criminals in two  More

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