San Diego, 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, Santa Cruz, CA is 1.8% less expensive than San Diego, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in San Diego works out to about $73,700 in Santa Cruz, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 8.3% less in Santa Cruz. Goods are 2.6% lower and other services 0.7% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $3,469 a month in Santa Cruz and $2,967 in San Diego, $6,024 a year more in Santa Cruz (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $1,136,000 in Santa Cruz and $927,000 in San Diego.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.5%).
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.
Housing drives the gap: 8.3% lower in Santa Cruz than in San Diego
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- San Diego, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
All items San Diego, CA: 111.9 Santa Cruz, CA: 109.9
Goods San Diego, CA: 108.0 Santa Cruz, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) San Diego, CA: 179.3 Santa Cruz, CA: 164.3
Utilities San Diego, CA: 174.2 Santa Cruz, CA: 152.7
Other services San Diego, CA: 99.6 Santa Cruz, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Diego, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.9 | 109.9 |
| Goods | 108.0 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 179.3 | 164.3 |
| Utilities | 174.2 | 152.7 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 100.3 |
| Category | San Diego | Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz vs San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.9 | 109.9 | −1.8% |
| Goods | 108.0 | 105.2 | −2.6% |
| Housing (rents) | 179.3 | 164.3 | −8.3% |
| Utilities | 174.2 | 152.7 | −12.4% |
| Other services | 99.6 | 100.3 | +0.7% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,967 | $3,469 | +16.9% |
| Typical home value | $927,000 | $1,136,000 | +22.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in San Diego | $75,000 | $73,700 | −1.8% |
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 San Diego and Santa Cruz has narrowed since 2008: 6.1 points then, 2.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- San Diego, 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
| San Diego, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 113.7 | 119.8 |
| 2009 | 114.6 | 113.9 |
| 2010 | 112.8 | 113.9 |
| 2011 | 114.1 | 111.7 |
| 2012 | 112.9 | 112.3 |
| 2013 | 111.7 | 111.4 |
| 2014 | 110.9 | 113.8 |
| 2015 | 112.3 | 115.3 |
| 2016 | 113.6 | 115.1 |
| 2017 | 112.3 | 120.9 |
| 2018 | 112.6 | 111.3 |
| 2019 | 113.5 | 110.7 |
| 2020 | 115.1 | 111.7 |
| 2021 | 115.1 | 109.1 |
| 2022 | 114.6 | 114.7 |
| 2023 | 110.7 | 112.8 |
| 2024 | 111.9 | 109.9 |
Goods
- San Diego, 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
| San Diego, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.8 | 117.8 |
| 2009 | 109.1 | 110.0 |
| 2010 | 107.0 | 107.0 |
| 2011 | 108.1 | 105.5 |
| 2012 | 105.0 | 108.0 |
| 2013 | 100.6 | 109.9 |
| 2014 | 101.1 | 108.8 |
| 2015 | 103.7 | 111.4 |
| 2016 | 97.9 | 111.2 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 114.0 |
| 2018 | 99.2 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 104.0 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 106.8 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 107.2 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 108.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 102.2 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 108.0 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- San Diego, 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
| San Diego, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 179.4 | 188.6 |
| 2009 | 178.4 | 163.0 |
| 2010 | 180.8 | 170.1 |
| 2011 | 175.1 | 165.5 |
| 2012 | 173.2 | 176.3 |
| 2013 | 175.1 | 155.5 |
| 2014 | 182.6 | 179.5 |
| 2015 | 178.4 | 178.0 |
| 2016 | 179.5 | 174.5 |
| 2017 | 184.3 | 188.5 |
| 2018 | 186.1 | 167.4 |
| 2019 | 185.2 | 173.6 |
| 2020 | 184.7 | 189.9 |
| 2021 | 190.0 | 168.2 |
| 2022 | 183.9 | 185.0 |
| 2023 | 185.8 | 175.0 |
| 2024 | 179.3 | 164.3 |
Utilities
- San Diego, 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
| San Diego, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 124.0 | 114.3 |
| 2009 | 143.7 | 114.8 |
| 2010 | 138.4 | 116.8 |
| 2011 | 134.5 | 112.3 |
| 2012 | 142.1 | 109.3 |
| 2013 | 147.1 | 127.7 |
| 2014 | 142.7 | 132.9 |
| 2015 | 144.9 | 139.6 |
| 2016 | 150.2 | 143.0 |
| 2017 | 152.3 | 150.0 |
| 2018 | 156.0 | 120.0 |
| 2019 | 157.2 | 127.6 |
| 2020 | 163.4 | 131.5 |
| 2021 | 166.3 | 139.4 |
| 2022 | 166.2 | 143.6 |
| 2023 | 158.3 | 138.3 |
| 2024 | 174.2 | 152.7 |
Other services
- San Diego, 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
| San Diego, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.7 | 107.0 |
| 2009 | 101.6 | 104.0 |
| 2010 | 99.9 | 104.1 |
| 2011 | 102.6 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 103.1 | 102.2 |
| 2013 | 103.2 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 101.0 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 102.3 | 104.3 |
| 2016 | 108.1 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | 104.4 | 111.0 |
| 2018 | 104.5 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 103.4 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 103.2 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 103.4 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 103.0 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 99.9 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 99.6 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $3,469 in Santa Cruz vs $2,967 in San Diego
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- San Diego, 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
| San Diego, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,634 | $1,897 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,657 | $1,965 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,691 | $2,060 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,698 | $2,131 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,721 | $2,095 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,758 | $2,198 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,780 | $2,189 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,785 | $2,257 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,825 | $2,233 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,871 | $2,317 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,889 | $2,357 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,891 | $2,348 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,926 | $2,368 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,965 | $2,457 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,987 | $2,460 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,983 | $2,459 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,001 | $2,475 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,036 | $2,508 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,056 | $2,517 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,059 | $2,508 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,073 | $2,534 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,059 | $2,530 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,093 | $2,554 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,128 | $2,611 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,165 | $2,601 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,265 | $2,721 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,415 | $2,874 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,481 | $2,900 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,556 | $2,990 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,684 | $3,057 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,742 | $3,163 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,709 | $3,126 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,740 | $3,105 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,817 | $3,226 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,836 | $3,257 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,784 | $3,164 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,801 | $3,227 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,851 | $3,317 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,861 | $3,360 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,849 | $3,284 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,875 | $3,321 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,900 | $3,381 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,904 | $3,347 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,884 | $3,364 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,915 | $3,378 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,949 | $3,494 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,967 | $3,469 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $1,136,000 in Santa Cruz vs $927,000 in San Diego
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- San Diego, 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
| San Diego, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $464K | $610K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $472K | $626K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $480K | $637K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $493K | $659K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $505K | $682K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $509K | $688K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $514K | $688K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $526K | $704K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $537K | $721K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $546K | $730K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $555K | $739K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $568K | $763K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $577K | $783K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $583K | $797K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $587K | $798K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $589K | $801K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $589K | $790K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $592K | $791K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $593K | $793K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $600K | $792K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $612K | $803K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $619K | $805K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $628K | $822K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $661K | $869K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $694K | $918K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $739K | $984K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $762K | $1.02M | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $778K | $1.04M | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $842K | $1.12M | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $895K | $1.18M | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $874K | $1.12M | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $847K | $1.09M | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $833K | $1.05M | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $852K | $1.07M | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $887K | $1.1M | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $906K | $1.1M | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $921K | $1.1M | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $944K | $1.11M | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $945K | $1.11M | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $945K | $1.1M | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $942K | $1.09M | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $929K | $1.08M | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $920K | $1.08M | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $923K | $1.1M | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $925K | $1.11M | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $924K | $1.12M | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $927K | $1.14M | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in San Diego, CA
- Cost of living in Santa Cruz, CA
- Reverse: moving from Santa Cruz to San Diego
Related comparisons
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.