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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Oakland or is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz?
- Oakland is 5.1% more expensive than Santa Cruz.

Which city has more affordable housing, Oakland or Santa Cruz?
- Oakland housing costs are 24.7% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz or is Health Care more affordable in Oakland.
- Health related expenses are 7.0% more in Oakland.
 Santa Cruz, CAOakland, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock195.5100
 Food & Groceries111.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock116.8100
 Housing420.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$819,500$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock125.8100
 Miscellaneous155.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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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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Reviews for Oakland    38 Reviews

I move to Oakland 20yrs ago with high hopes, loved the geography of the city, the diversity is outstanding, and the charm of the older homes is wonderful. When I  More

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Over 4 years ago

Fun place to visit. Little rough is some areas- a lot to do  More

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I moved to Oakland because of its racial diversity in the early eighties although I've seen some ups and downs in this visually beautiful city, it has never been as bad  More

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