Cost of Living Comparison Between Noord and Santa Cruz Cost of Living Comparison Between Noord and Santa Cruz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,235 per month in Noord vs $1,842 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,096 per month in Noord vs $2,836 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,958 per month in Noord vs $3,829 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Noord is about 33% cheaper than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Noord sits 8% below the global median, while Santa Cruz is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.66 AWG 24.45

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.5 AWG 117

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 AWG 17.56

Cappuccino

$5.05 AWG 9.04

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 AWG 1.75

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 AWG 2.67

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 AWG 9.46

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.77 AWG 12.11

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 AWG 3.87

White Bread (500g)

$2.74 AWG 4.91

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 AWG 8.11

Eggs

$4.62 AWG 8.28

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 AWG 14.82

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 AWG 13.26

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 AWG 12.14

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 AWG 7.81

Banana (1kg)

$4.56 AWG 8.16

Oranges (1kg)

$8.49 AWG 15.19

Tomato (1kg)

$6.68 AWG 11.96

Potato (1kg)

$6.82 AWG 12.21

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 AWG 3.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 AWG 5.34

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.45 AWG 7.97

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.44 AWG 18.69

Wine (Bottle)

$10.23 AWG 18.31

$19.67 AWG 35.20

-47.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 AWG 4.45

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 AWG 5.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 AWG 5.27

$1.98 AWG 3.55

48.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$152 AWG 273

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 AWG 10.70

$19.34 AWG 34.61

-69.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$6.06 AWG 10.85

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.78 AWG 89.1

$19.23 AWG 34.43

158.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 AWG 2.63

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$153 AWG 274

$139 AWG 249

9.95%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$72.7 AWG 130

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$100 AWG 179

$205 AWG 367

-51.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.11 AWG 87.9

$68.5 AWG 123

-28.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.81 AWG 83.8

Cinema Ticket

$7.80 AWG 13.97

$8.48 AWG 15.18

-8.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$141 AWG 253

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.4 AWG 139

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$110 AWG 196

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 AWG 244

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 AWG 247

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 AWG 1,449

$1,282 AWG 2,294

-36.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$610 AWG 1,092

$555 AWG 993

9.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,758 AWG 3,146

$1,582 AWG 2,831

11.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,602 AWG 2,868

$1,386 AWG 2,481

15.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,569 AWG 6,388

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Noord: June 9, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $809 in Noord versus $1,282 in Santa Cruz. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Noord vs Santa Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz costs about 49% more than Noord, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,853 per month in Noord and $2,763 in Santa Cruz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Noord, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,235 in Noord and $1,842 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 2012% more in Santa Cruz, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Noord, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Santa Cruz at $1,842. In Noord it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Cruz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Noord – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Noord. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Cruz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.