Santa Cruz, CA vs Los Angeles, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Los Angeles, CA is 3.3% more expensive than Santa Cruz, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Santa Cruz works out to about $77,500 in Los Angeles, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 1.4% higher and other services 4.1% higher in Los Angeles, while housing is 3.7% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,929 a month in Los Angeles and $3,469 in Santa Cruz, $6,480 a year less in Los Angeles (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $950,000 in Los Angeles and $1,136,000 in Santa Cruz.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Los Angeles was 0.2% more expensive than Santa Cruz.
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.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Santa Cruz and Los Angeles
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
All items Santa Cruz, CA: 109.9 Los Angeles, CA: 113.6
Goods Santa Cruz, CA: 105.2 Los Angeles, CA: 106.6
Housing (rents) Santa Cruz, CA: 164.3 Los Angeles, CA: 170.4
Utilities Santa Cruz, CA: 152.7 Los Angeles, CA: 158.6
Other services Santa Cruz, CA: 100.3 Los Angeles, CA: 104.4
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Cruz, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.9 | 113.6 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 106.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 164.3 | 170.4 |
| Utilities | 152.7 | 158.6 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 104.4 |
| Category | Santa Cruz | Los Angeles | Los Angeles vs Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.9 | 113.6 | +3.3% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 106.6 | +1.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 164.3 | 170.4 | +3.7% |
| Utilities | 152.7 | 158.6 | +3.8% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 104.4 | +4.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $3,469 | $2,929 | −15.6% |
| Typical home value | $1,136,000 | $950,000 | −16.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Santa Cruz | $75,000 | $77,500 | +3.3% |
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 Santa Cruz and Los Angeles has narrowed since 2008: 6.5 points then, 3.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Cruz, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 119.8 | 113.3 |
| 2009 | 113.9 | 112.2 |
| 2010 | 113.9 | 112.5 |
| 2011 | 111.7 | 111.5 |
| 2012 | 112.3 | 112.1 |
| 2013 | 111.4 | 112.4 |
| 2014 | 113.8 | 112.2 |
| 2015 | 115.3 | 113.3 |
| 2016 | 115.1 | 111.3 |
| 2017 | 120.9 | 110.2 |
| 2018 | 111.3 | 111.0 |
| 2019 | 110.7 | 110.9 |
| 2020 | 111.7 | 113.9 |
| 2021 | 109.1 | 114.2 |
| 2022 | 114.7 | 113.3 |
| 2023 | 112.8 | 114.7 |
| 2024 | 109.9 | 113.6 |
Goods
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Cruz, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 117.8 | 108.0 |
| 2009 | 110.0 | 103.1 |
| 2010 | 107.0 | 104.0 |
| 2011 | 105.5 | 105.1 |
| 2012 | 108.0 | 104.4 |
| 2013 | 109.9 | 104.4 |
| 2014 | 108.8 | 106.2 |
| 2015 | 111.4 | 108.1 |
| 2016 | 111.2 | 107.8 |
| 2017 | 114.0 | 102.5 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 103.6 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 105.9 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 106.5 |
| 2021 | 106.9 | 108.9 |
| 2022 | 109.0 | 106.5 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 107.1 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 106.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Cruz, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 188.6 | 183.8 |
| 2009 | 163.0 | 183.2 |
| 2010 | 170.1 | 180.0 |
| 2011 | 165.5 | 178.3 |
| 2012 | 176.3 | 178.4 |
| 2013 | 155.5 | 176.7 |
| 2014 | 179.5 | 178.5 |
| 2015 | 178.0 | 177.2 |
| 2016 | 174.5 | 178.5 |
| 2017 | 188.5 | 178.4 |
| 2018 | 167.4 | 180.5 |
| 2019 | 173.6 | 183.4 |
| 2020 | 189.9 | 183.6 |
| 2021 | 168.2 | 181.5 |
| 2022 | 185.0 | 176.9 |
| 2023 | 175.0 | 173.0 |
| 2024 | 164.3 | 170.4 |
Utilities
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Cruz, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 114.3 | 118.2 |
| 2009 | 114.8 | 119.5 |
| 2010 | 116.8 | 119.3 |
| 2011 | 112.3 | 114.5 |
| 2012 | 109.3 | 116.2 |
| 2013 | 127.7 | 117.9 |
| 2014 | 132.9 | 127.7 |
| 2015 | 139.6 | 125.1 |
| 2016 | 143.0 | 125.2 |
| 2017 | 150.0 | 127.1 |
| 2018 | 120.0 | 107.9 |
| 2019 | 127.6 | 112.9 |
| 2020 | 131.5 | 117.6 |
| 2021 | 139.4 | 132.3 |
| 2022 | 143.6 | 149.1 |
| 2023 | 138.3 | 140.7 |
| 2024 | 152.7 | 158.6 |
Other services
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Cruz, CA | Los Angeles, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.0 | 101.9 |
| 2009 | 104.0 | 102.0 |
| 2010 | 104.1 | 102.5 |
| 2011 | 102.7 | 101.1 |
| 2012 | 102.2 | 102.6 |
| 2013 | 101.6 | 103.2 |
| 2014 | 103.2 | 101.8 |
| 2015 | 104.3 | 103.0 |
| 2016 | 104.9 | 99.9 |
| 2017 | 111.0 | 100.8 |
| 2018 | 103.7 | 101.8 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 100.0 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 102.7 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 102.9 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 103.7 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 106.1 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 104.4 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,929 in Los Angeles vs $3,469 in Santa Cruz
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Los Angeles, 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
| Santa Cruz, CA | Los Angeles, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,897 | $1,768 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,965 | $1,809 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $2,060 | $1,843 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $2,131 | $1,858 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $2,095 | $1,888 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $2,198 | $1,925 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $2,189 | $1,948 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $2,257 | $1,955 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $2,233 | $2,007 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $2,317 | $2,042 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $2,357 | $2,062 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $2,348 | $2,071 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $2,368 | $2,104 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $2,457 | $2,132 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $2,460 | $2,155 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $2,459 | $2,171 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,475 | $2,190 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,508 | $2,222 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,517 | $2,239 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,508 | $2,246 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,534 | $2,260 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,530 | $2,236 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,554 | $2,236 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,611 | $2,238 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,601 | $2,275 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,721 | $2,338 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,874 | $2,468 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,900 | $2,523 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,990 | $2,591 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $3,057 | $2,668 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $3,163 | $2,706 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $3,126 | $2,689 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $3,105 | $2,706 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $3,226 | $2,733 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $3,257 | $2,759 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $3,164 | $2,742 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $3,227 | $2,766 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $3,317 | $2,796 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $3,360 | $2,819 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $3,284 | $2,805 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $3,321 | $2,865 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $3,381 | $2,871 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $3,347 | $2,878 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $3,364 | $2,866 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $3,378 | $2,890 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $3,494 | $2,916 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $3,469 | $2,929 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $950,000 in Los Angeles vs $1,136,000 in Santa Cruz
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Los Angeles, 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
| Santa Cruz, CA | Los Angeles, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $610K | $507K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $626K | $509K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $637K | $505K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $659K | $495K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $682K | $518K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $688K | $538K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $688K | $528K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $704K | $524K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $721K | $557K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $730K | $578K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $739K | $579K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $763K | $591K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $783K | $613K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $797K | $627K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $798K | $644K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $801K | $660K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $790K | $643K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $791K | $635K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $793K | $645K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $792K | $664K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $803K | $669K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $805K | $666K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $822K | $682K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $869K | $723K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $918K | $741K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $984K | $769K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $1.02M | $797K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $1.04M | $822K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $1.12M | $864K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $1.18M | $897K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $1.12M | $890K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $1.09M | $878K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $1.05M | $849K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $1.07M | $858K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $1.1M | $896K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $1.1M | $922K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $1.1M | $918K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $1.11M | $931K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $1.11M | $947K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $1.1M | $961K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $1.09M | $954K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $1.08M | $941K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $1.08M | $938K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $1.1M | $948K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $1.11M | $951K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $1.12M | $947K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $1.14M | $950K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Santa Cruz, CA
- Cost of living in Los Angeles, CA
- Reverse: moving from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz
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.