2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Wilmington, NC vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Wilmington?
- Santa Cruz is 89.6% more expensive than Wilmington.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Wilmington?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 325.8% more expensive than Wilmington housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Wilmington or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 8.0% less in Santa Cruz.
 Wilmington, NCSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries99.9  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing98.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities97  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous110.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Wilmington    71 Reviews

I was born here and I will update more at a later time. First and most important, teh average cost of a 1br apt in Wilmington is approximately $1,800. Rentals have  More

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I think that a lot has changed since covid for this city and will continue to keep changing with our insane economy. But I was born and raised in Wilmington and have  More

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Scotty · 

Wilmington NC was once a wonderful city filled with Southern charm, history, safety and natural beauty. Recently that has been replaced by erasing everything Southern or  More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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