2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Watsonville, CA vs Santa Rosa, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Rosa or is it cheaper to live in Watsonville?
- Santa Rosa is 18.4% less expensive than Watsonville.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Rosa or Watsonville?
- Santa Rosa housing costs are 13.4% less expensive than Watsonville housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Watsonville or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Rosa.
- Health related expenses are 1.0% more in Santa Rosa.
 Watsonville, CASanta Rosa, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.8100
 Food & Groceries107.3  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock110.3100
 Housing258.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$666,900$338,100
 Utilities91  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock103.6100
 Miscellaneous156.1  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Watsonville    3 Reviews

We live in a nice area and love the climate but cost of living have gotten way out of hand. Vandals walk around smashing windows over and over without getting  More

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the cost of housing is slightly more affordable (just slightly). Close to the beach and near perfect weather. Especially during summer when it was 107 in San Jose' it  More

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Over 19 years ago

Nice neighborhood, but since moving here we have not felt a sense of  More

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Reviews for Santa Rosa    43 Reviews

I was born and raised here. Santa Rosa used to be a great city great location great weather but now it is overcrowded and crime is off the charts and housing is crazy  More

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I've lived her over 20 years and it's a pretty nice place. The main vibe is you feel safe doing this day or night. Most of the neighborhoods are well taken care of, they  More

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Terrible city that's hurting for money. After going on a long hiatus from enforcing traffic laws, they've recently turned their highways into an ATM machine/cash cow by  More

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