Cost of Living: San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA versus $3,974/mo in Santa Cruz, CA. In the model, rent is about 32.4% of gross in San Diego, CA versus 33.55% in Santa Cruz, CA, so San Diego, CA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between San Diego, CA and Santa Cruz, CA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Santa Cruz, CA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): San Diego, CA
- Lower home prices: San Diego, CA
- Higher median household income: Santa Cruz, CA
Cost of Living Index
San Diego, CA: 142.3 (U.S. = 100) · Santa Cruz, CA: 100 (U.S. = 100)
Santa Cruz, CA has a lower cost-of-living index than San Diego, CA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
San Diego, CA: $2,112/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Santa Cruz, CA: $2,187/mo
Median rent in Santa Cruz, CA is $75/mo higher than in San Diego, CA.
Median Home Price
San Diego, CA: $848,500 · Santa Cruz, CA: $1,180,100
Median home price in Santa Cruz, CA is $331,600 higher than in San Diego, CA.
Median Household Income
San Diego, CA: $104,321 · Santa Cruz, CA: $111,427
Santa Cruz, CA has a higher median household income than San Diego, CA by $7,106.
San Diego, CA overview · Santa Cruz, CA overview · Popular comparisons