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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Monica or is it cheaper to live in Raleigh?
- Santa Monica is 52.8% more expensive than Raleigh.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Monica or Raleigh?
- Santa Monica housing costs are 423.6% more expensive than Raleigh housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Raleigh or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Monica.
- Health related expenses are 4.9% less in Santa Monica.
 Raleigh, NCSanta Monica, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock161.7100
 Food & Groceries100.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock90.2100
 Housing118.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,656,900$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock154.8100
 Miscellaneous109.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Raleigh    224 Reviews

I moved to Raleigh in 2018. Before that, I lived in Orange County CA, Boulder CO, South Africa, Northern California, Arizona, and Toronto. I say all this to give  More

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Excellent for a great many people or categories of people. As far as prices: ratio of wage and job opportunity here with housing remains one of the better ones in the  More

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Over 2 years ago

I attended university here in the early 90s and came back around 2005 and never left. I'm surprised at the other negative reviews honestly. Yes, housing is pricey in  More

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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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