2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Sunnyvale, CA vs Petaluma, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Petaluma or is it cheaper to live in Sunnyvale?
- Petaluma is 34.3% less expensive than Sunnyvale.

Which city has more affordable housing, Petaluma or Sunnyvale?
- Petaluma housing costs are 56.6% less expensive than Sunnyvale housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Sunnyvale or is Health Care more affordable in Petaluma.
- Health related expenses are 2.4% more in Petaluma.
 Sunnyvale, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.8100
 Food & Groceries118.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock110.3100
 Housing649.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$839,600$338,100
 Utilities85  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock113.1100
 Miscellaneous155.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Sunnyvale    14 Reviews

At this point, I would only recommend moving to silicon valley for the job market. Sure, the weather is great and the restaurants offer huge variety. But the costs of  More

   |    Reply

Like previous reviewer, tech company's tyranny over city gov and quality of living has negatively impacted a fantastic place to live. Climate, while super, is grossly  More

   |    Reply

I've lived here for 40 years. While the weather is fabulous, For the past ten years of high density housing mostly needed to house thousands of a young up coming tech  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Sunnyvale

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Petaluma


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.