Cost of Living: Los Angeles, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $3,974/mo in Los Angeles, CA versus $3,974/mo in Santa Cruz, CA. In the model, rent is about 25.99% of gross in Los Angeles, CA versus 33.55% in Santa Cruz, CA, so Los Angeles, CA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Los Angeles, CA and Santa Cruz, CA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Santa Cruz, CA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Los Angeles, CA
- Lower home prices: Los Angeles, CA
- Higher median household income: Santa Cruz, CA
Cost of Living Index
Los Angeles, CA: 148.6 (U.S. = 100) · Santa Cruz, CA: 100 (U.S. = 100)
Santa Cruz, CA has a lower cost-of-living index than Los Angeles, CA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
Los Angeles, CA: $1,695/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Santa Cruz, CA: $2,187/mo
Median rent in Santa Cruz, CA is $492/mo higher than in Los Angeles, CA.
Median Home Price
Los Angeles, CA: $657,700 · Santa Cruz, CA: $1,180,100
Median home price in Santa Cruz, CA is $522,400 higher than in Los Angeles, CA.
Median Household Income
Los Angeles, CA: $74,785 · Santa Cruz, CA: $111,427
Santa Cruz, CA has a higher median household income than Los Angeles, CA by $36,642.
Los Angeles, CA overview · Santa Cruz, CA overview · Popular comparisons