Salinas, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Santa Cruz, CA and Salinas, CA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Salinas works out to about $75,600 in Santa Cruz, before taxes.
- Housing is 12.8% higher in Santa Cruz, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $3,469 a month in Santa Cruz and $2,771 in Salinas, $8,376 a year more in Santa Cruz (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $1,136,000 in Santa Cruz and $841,000 in Salinas.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.7%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Salinas and Santa Cruz
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
All items Salinas, CA: 109.0 Santa Cruz, CA: 109.9
Goods Salinas, CA: 105.2 Santa Cruz, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Salinas, CA: 145.7 Santa Cruz, CA: 164.3
Utilities Salinas, CA: 154.2 Santa Cruz, CA: 152.7
Other services Salinas, CA: 100.3 Santa Cruz, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.0 | 109.9 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 145.7 | 164.3 |
| Utilities | 154.2 | 152.7 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Salinas | Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz vs Salinas |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.0 | 109.9 | +0.8% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 145.7 | 164.3 | +12.8% |
| Utilities | 154.2 | 152.7 | −0.9% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,771 | $3,469 | +25.2% |
| Typical home value | $841,000 | $1,136,000 | +35.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Salinas | $75,000 | $75,600 | +0.8% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Salinas and Santa Cruz has narrowed since 2008: 15.2 points then, 0.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.6 | 119.8 |
| 2009 | 107.7 | 113.9 |
| 2010 | 106.8 | 113.9 |
| 2011 | 109.4 | 111.7 |
| 2012 | 110.1 | 112.3 |
| 2013 | 108.9 | 111.4 |
| 2014 | 106.6 | 113.8 |
| 2015 | 106.0 | 115.3 |
| 2016 | 104.8 | 115.1 |
| 2017 | 107.8 | 120.9 |
| 2018 | 112.1 | 111.3 |
| 2019 | 111.5 | 110.7 |
| 2020 | 110.3 | 111.7 |
| 2021 | 109.3 | 109.1 |
| 2022 | 113.1 | 114.7 |
| 2023 | 113.2 | 112.8 |
| 2024 | 109.0 | 109.9 |
Goods
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 117.8 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 110.0 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 107.0 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 105.5 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 108.0 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 109.9 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 108.8 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 111.4 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 111.2 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 114.0 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 106.9 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 109.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 158.2 | 188.6 |
| 2009 | 149.0 | 163.0 |
| 2010 | 159.4 | 170.1 |
| 2011 | 159.3 | 165.5 |
| 2012 | 163.3 | 176.3 |
| 2013 | 166.7 | 155.5 |
| 2014 | 151.0 | 179.5 |
| 2015 | 161.6 | 178.0 |
| 2016 | 155.0 | 174.5 |
| 2017 | 164.9 | 188.5 |
| 2018 | 164.4 | 167.4 |
| 2019 | 168.6 | 173.6 |
| 2020 | 164.6 | 189.9 |
| 2021 | 159.5 | 168.2 |
| 2022 | 159.5 | 185.0 |
| 2023 | 166.6 | 175.0 |
| 2024 | 145.7 | 164.3 |
Utilities
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 114.3 |
| 2009 | 96.4 | 114.8 |
| 2010 | 110.4 | 116.8 |
| 2011 | 112.8 | 112.3 |
| 2012 | 116.1 | 109.3 |
| 2013 | 115.3 | 127.7 |
| 2014 | 121.2 | 132.9 |
| 2015 | 121.3 | 139.6 |
| 2016 | 115.5 | 143.0 |
| 2017 | 110.4 | 150.0 |
| 2018 | 120.2 | 120.0 |
| 2019 | 128.6 | 127.6 |
| 2020 | 130.6 | 131.5 |
| 2021 | 140.8 | 139.4 |
| 2022 | 144.7 | 143.6 |
| 2023 | 138.4 | 138.3 |
| 2024 | 154.2 | 152.7 |
Other services
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 107.0 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 104.0 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 104.1 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 102.4 | 102.2 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 101.0 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 104.3 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 111.0 |
| 2018 | 103.7 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $3,469 in Santa Cruz vs $2,771 in Salinas
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,515 | $1,897 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,551 | $1,965 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,550 | $2,060 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,637 | $2,131 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,647 | $2,095 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,713 | $2,198 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,733 | $2,189 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,717 | $2,257 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,790 | $2,233 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,829 | $2,317 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,834 | $2,357 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,855 | $2,348 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,882 | $2,368 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,936 | $2,457 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,964 | $2,460 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,936 | $2,459 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,964 | $2,475 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,013 | $2,508 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,058 | $2,517 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,040 | $2,508 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,043 | $2,534 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,048 | $2,530 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,111 | $2,554 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,152 | $2,611 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,155 | $2,601 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,205 | $2,721 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,337 | $2,874 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,337 | $2,900 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,360 | $2,990 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,447 | $3,057 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,458 | $3,163 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,482 | $3,126 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,517 | $3,105 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,526 | $3,226 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,583 | $3,257 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,532 | $3,164 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,602 | $3,227 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,614 | $3,317 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,667 | $3,360 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,709 | $3,284 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,787 | $3,321 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,744 | $3,381 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,750 | $3,347 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,743 | $3,364 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,790 | $3,378 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,909 | $3,494 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,771 | $3,469 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $1,136,000 in Santa Cruz vs $841,000 in Salinas
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $430K | $610K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $439K | $626K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $448K | $637K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $464K | $659K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $478K | $682K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $482K | $688K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $487K | $688K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $499K | $704K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $512K | $721K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $519K | $730K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $526K | $739K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $535K | $763K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $545K | $783K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $553K | $797K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $558K | $798K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $567K | $801K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $573K | $790K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $578K | $791K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $581K | $793K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $587K | $792K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $597K | $803K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $606K | $805K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $618K | $822K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $649K | $869K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $679K | $918K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $718K | $984K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $740K | $1.02M | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $755K | $1.04M | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $797K | $1.12M | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $830K | $1.18M | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $811K | $1.12M | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $793K | $1.09M | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $781K | $1.05M | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $795K | $1.07M | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $815K | $1.1M | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $825K | $1.1M | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $828K | $1.1M | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $843K | $1.11M | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $847K | $1.11M | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $849K | $1.1M | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $846K | $1.09M | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $836K | $1.08M | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $831K | $1.08M | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $832K | $1.1M | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $831K | $1.11M | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $834K | $1.12M | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $841K | $1.14M | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.