Cost of living comparison
Santa Cruz is 66.8% cheaper than Washington.
- Restaurants
-
pay 69.3% less in Santa Cruz
- Groceries
-
pay 64.6% less in Santa Cruz
- Transportation
-
pay 53.8% less in Santa Cruz
- Housing
-
pay 75.2% less in Santa Cruz
- Childcare
-
pay 89.8% less in Santa Cruz
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 70.1% less in Santa Cruz
- Clothing
-
pay 45.0% less in Santa Cruz
Expenses including childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, groceries, and transportation are lower in Santa Cruz.
If you lived in Santa Cruz instead of Washington, you would:
pay 69.3% less for restaurants
|
Washington
|
Santa Cruz
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$3.23
BOB22.32
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00
|
$7.18
BOB49.59
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.78
|
$0.60
BOB4.16
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.22
|
$0.63
BOB4.33
|
|
pay 64.6% less for groceries
|
Washington
|
Santa Cruz
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.34
|
$1.42
BOB9.81
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.84
|
$1.95
BOB13.47
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.14
|
$3.84
BOB26.56
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.91
|
$1.61
BOB11.13
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.73
|
$1.43
BOB9.87
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.70
|
$0.87
BOB6.00
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.85
|
$0.42
BOB2.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.46
|
$0.60
BOB4.16
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.59
|
$0.42
BOB2.88
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.55
|
$0.39
BOB2.70
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.61
|
$0.46
BOB3.15
|
|
pay 53.8% less for transportation
|
Washington
|
Santa Cruz
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.66
|
$2.05
BOB14.13
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$21.17
BOB146.30
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,699.74
|
$15,072.80
BOB104,143.35
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$23.88
|
$14.00
BOB96.70
|
|
pay 75.2% less for housing
|
Washington
|
Santa Cruz
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.46
|
$32.27
BOB223.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,582.95
|
$490.33
BOB3,387.86
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,028.70
|
$233.31
BOB1,612.05
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$146.65
|
$29.35
BOB202.76
|
|
pay 89.8% less for childcare
|
Washington
|
Santa Cruz
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,273.25
|
$218.20
BOB1,507.60
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$38,250.00
|
$4,162.96
BOB28,763.40
|
|
pay 70.1% less for entertainment and sports
|
Washington
|
Santa Cruz
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$1.44
BOB9.92
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.55
|
$2.53
BOB17.49
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.75
|
$2.15
BOB14.88
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$106.36
|
$29.91
BOB206.63
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$17.18
|
$6.82
BOB47.11
|
|
pay 45.0% less for clothing
|
Washington
|
Santa Cruz
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$74.13
|
$40.19
BOB277.72
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.77
|
$34.09
BOB235.56
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$105.47
|
$74.22
BOB512.78
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$178.48
|
$50.24
BOB347.14
|
|
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