Santa Cruz, CA vs Vallejo, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Vallejo, CA is 1.3% less expensive than Santa Cruz, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Santa Cruz works out to about $74,000 in Vallejo, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 13.6% less in Vallejo. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,464 a month in Vallejo and $3,469 in Santa Cruz, $12,060 a year less in Vallejo (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $571,000 in Vallejo and $1,136,000 in Santa Cruz.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.3%).
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: 13.6% lower in Vallejo than in Santa Cruz
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Vallejo, CA
All items Santa Cruz, CA: 109.9 Vallejo, CA: 108.5
Goods Santa Cruz, CA: 105.2 Vallejo, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Santa Cruz, CA: 164.3 Vallejo, CA: 142.0
Utilities Santa Cruz, CA: 152.7 Vallejo, CA: 155.0
Other services Santa Cruz, CA: 100.3 Vallejo, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Cruz, CA | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.9 | 108.5 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 164.3 | 142.0 |
| Utilities | 152.7 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Santa Cruz | Vallejo | Vallejo vs Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.9 | 108.5 | −1.3% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 164.3 | 142.0 | −13.6% |
| Utilities | 152.7 | 155.0 | +1.5% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $3,469 | $2,464 | −29.0% |
| Typical home value | $1,136,000 | $571,000 | −49.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Santa Cruz | $75,000 | $74,000 | −1.3% |
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 Vallejo has narrowed since 2008: 3.0 points then, 1.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Vallejo, 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 | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 119.8 | 116.8 |
| 2009 | 113.9 | 113.7 |
| 2010 | 113.9 | 111.9 |
| 2011 | 111.7 | 109.5 |
| 2012 | 112.3 | 109.7 |
| 2013 | 111.4 | 110.2 |
| 2014 | 113.8 | 110.7 |
| 2015 | 115.3 | 112.7 |
| 2016 | 115.1 | 113.1 |
| 2017 | 120.9 | 117.6 |
| 2018 | 111.3 | 110.5 |
| 2019 | 110.7 | 109.2 |
| 2020 | 111.7 | 110.7 |
| 2021 | 109.1 | 109.4 |
| 2022 | 114.7 | 112.6 |
| 2023 | 112.8 | 109.4 |
| 2024 | 109.9 | 108.5 |
Goods
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Vallejo, 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 | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 117.8 | 117.8 |
| 2009 | 110.0 | 110.0 |
| 2010 | 107.0 | 107.0 |
| 2011 | 105.5 | 105.5 |
| 2012 | 108.0 | 108.0 |
| 2013 | 109.9 | 109.9 |
| 2014 | 108.8 | 108.8 |
| 2015 | 111.4 | 111.4 |
| 2016 | 111.2 | 111.2 |
| 2017 | 114.0 | 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)
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Vallejo, 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 | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 188.6 | 154.0 |
| 2009 | 163.0 | 158.8 |
| 2010 | 170.1 | 149.7 |
| 2011 | 165.5 | 143.2 |
| 2012 | 176.3 | 141.3 |
| 2013 | 155.5 | 141.1 |
| 2014 | 179.5 | 140.6 |
| 2015 | 178.0 | 148.0 |
| 2016 | 174.5 | 149.3 |
| 2017 | 188.5 | 146.4 |
| 2018 | 167.4 | 152.4 |
| 2019 | 173.6 | 149.7 |
| 2020 | 189.9 | 162.4 |
| 2021 | 168.2 | 158.5 |
| 2022 | 185.0 | 151.4 |
| 2023 | 175.0 | 135.6 |
| 2024 | 164.3 | 142.0 |
Utilities
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Vallejo, 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 | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 114.3 | 116.4 |
| 2009 | 114.8 | 116.7 |
| 2010 | 116.8 | 119.6 |
| 2011 | 112.3 | 114.1 |
| 2012 | 109.3 | 110.8 |
| 2013 | 127.7 | 130.7 |
| 2014 | 132.9 | 135.8 |
| 2015 | 139.6 | 143.3 |
| 2016 | 143.0 | 145.6 |
| 2017 | 150.0 | 153.4 |
| 2018 | 120.0 | 120.7 |
| 2019 | 127.6 | 128.6 |
| 2020 | 131.5 | 132.0 |
| 2021 | 139.4 | 140.7 |
| 2022 | 143.6 | 146.0 |
| 2023 | 138.3 | 139.2 |
| 2024 | 152.7 | 155.0 |
Other services
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Vallejo, 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 | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.0 | 107.0 |
| 2009 | 104.0 | 104.0 |
| 2010 | 104.1 | 104.1 |
| 2011 | 102.7 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 102.2 | 102.2 |
| 2013 | 101.6 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 103.2 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 104.3 | 104.3 |
| 2016 | 104.9 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | 111.0 | 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: $2,464 in Vallejo vs $3,469 in Santa Cruz
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Vallejo, 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 | Vallejo, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,897 | $1,397 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,965 | $1,442 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $2,060 | $1,470 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $2,131 | $1,494 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $2,095 | $1,515 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $2,198 | $1,559 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $2,189 | $1,577 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $2,257 | $1,592 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $2,233 | $1,637 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $2,317 | $1,683 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $2,357 | $1,719 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $2,348 | $1,718 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $2,368 | $1,750 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $2,457 | $1,797 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $2,460 | $1,813 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $2,459 | $1,820 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,475 | $1,852 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,508 | $1,894 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,517 | $1,903 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,508 | $1,917 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,534 | $1,934 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,530 | $1,922 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,554 | $1,992 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,611 | $2,036 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,601 | $2,049 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,721 | $2,100 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,874 | $2,172 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,900 | $2,201 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,990 | $2,214 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $3,057 | $2,281 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $3,163 | $2,284 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $3,126 | $2,237 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $3,105 | $2,271 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $3,226 | $2,284 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $3,257 | $2,292 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $3,164 | $2,270 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $3,227 | $2,313 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $3,317 | $2,344 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $3,360 | $2,373 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $3,284 | $2,354 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $3,321 | $2,381 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $3,381 | $2,399 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $3,347 | $2,404 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $3,364 | $2,369 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $3,378 | $2,392 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $3,494 | $2,417 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $3,469 | $2,464 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $571,000 in Vallejo vs $1,136,000 in Santa Cruz
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Vallejo, 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 | Vallejo, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $610K | $326K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $626K | $334K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $637K | $344K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $659K | $352K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $682K | $360K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $688K | $367K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $688K | $378K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $704K | $386K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $721K | $393K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $730K | $401K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $739K | $408K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $763K | $419K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $783K | $431K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $797K | $439K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $798K | $445K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $801K | $448K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $790K | $450K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $791K | $451K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $793K | $452K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $792K | $457K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $803K | $463K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $805K | $467K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $822K | $473K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $869K | $494K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $918K | $517K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $984K | $544K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $1.02M | $564K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $1.04M | $575K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $1.12M | $603K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $1.18M | $623K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $1.12M | $605K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $1.09M | $585K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $1.05M | $571K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $1.07M | $576K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $1.1M | $585K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $1.1M | $587K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $1.1M | $591K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $1.11M | $595K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $1.11M | $592K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $1.1M | $593K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $1.09M | $591K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $1.08M | $583K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $1.08M | $576K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $1.1M | $575K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $1.11M | $574K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $1.12M | $570K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $1.14M | $571K | $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.