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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Petaluma or is it cheaper to live in Santa Monica?
- Petaluma is 6.1% less expensive than Santa Monica.

Which city has more affordable housing, Petaluma or Santa Monica?
- Petaluma housing costs are 54.7% less expensive than Santa Monica housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Monica or is Health Care more affordable in Petaluma.
- Health related expenses are 22.3% more in Petaluma.
 Santa Monica, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.8100
 Food & Groceries111.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock110.3100
 Housing622.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$839,600$338,100
 Utilities81  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock113.1100
 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 Petaluma    16 Reviews

I agree with the low star reviews. Been here for 25 years, raised a family and seen everything turn to the left and worse. Weather is glorious, love the old Victorians  More

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We’ve lived here for 3 years and we love it. It has taken some time to grow on us. We moved from SF where we had lived over 15 years, we were not used to one year leases  More

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I’ve lived here a couple of years (after living in others parts of the Bay Area for 15+ years) and I love it! Great neighborhoods, friendly folks, good schools with  More

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