2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Somerville, MA vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Somerville?
- Santa Cruz is 28.5% more expensive than Somerville.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Somerville?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 49.3% more expensive than Somerville housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Somerville or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 22.4% more in Santa Cruz.
 Somerville, MASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries114.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing281.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities114  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous177.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Somerville    3 Reviews

I've lived in Somerville/Cambridge for 10 years, the last 4.5 with my husband in Spring Hill. It really is a great place to live if you are in your 20s & 30s: it is  More

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Living in Somerville is OK. I'm not a 'city' person and I would rather be out in the country some place, but it's not too bad here. I'm in my early 50s and own a house.  More

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Over 17 years ago

we are midwest transplants to the Boston area and lucked out by finding this great little neighborhood - right on the train line, little stores and good community - we  More

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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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