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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,858 per month in Santa Cruz vs $1,831 in Noord, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,852 per month in Santa Cruz vs $3,105 in Noord, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,845 per month in Santa Cruz vs $4,378 in Noord, rent included.

Santa Cruz costs about 1% more than Noord, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Santa Cruz and Noord sit above the global median – Santa Cruz by 36%, Noord by 34%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.38 AWG 41.85

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.0 AWG 156

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

$2.94 AWG 5.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 AWG 3.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.69 AWG 15.56

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.26 AWG 16.57

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 AWG 3.92

$1.91 AWG 3.43

14.66%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 AWG 4.75

$2.98 AWG 5.34

-10.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.47 AWG 7.99

$2.84 AWG 5.08

57.39%

Eggs

$4.59 AWG 8.22

$6.32 AWG 11.30

-27.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 AWG 14.19

$12.43 AWG 22.24

-36.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.40 AWG 13.24

$9.36 AWG 16.76

-20.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.83 AWG 12.22

$12.03 AWG 21.53

-43.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 AWG 8.00

$4.76 AWG 8.52

-6.09%

Banana (1kg)

$4.53 AWG 8.10

$2.31 AWG 4.13

96.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.40 AWG 15.04

$5.05 AWG 9.03

66.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.58 AWG 11.78

$3.56 AWG 6.37

84.83%

Potato (1kg)

$6.89 AWG 12.33

$2.25 AWG 4.03

206.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 AWG 3.38

$2.02 AWG 3.62

-6.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.11 AWG 5.56

$2.63 AWG 4.71

18.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.31 AWG 7.71

$1.56 AWG 2.80

176.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.20 AWG 18.26

$10.11 AWG 18.09

0.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 AWG 35.31

$10.19 AWG 18.23

93.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 AWG 4.39

$5.82 AWG 10.43

-57.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 AWG 5.43

$4.35 AWG 7.79

-30.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 AWG 3.42

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$154 AWG 276

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$19.74 AWG 35.33

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.22 AWG 34.39

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.73 AWG 4.89

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

$141 AWG 252

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

$71.2 AWG 127

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$207 AWG 371

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.4 AWG 122

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.86 AWG 83.9

Cinema Ticket

$8.53 AWG 15.27

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

$138 AWG 247

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.0 AWG 141

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$111 AWG 198

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$140 AWG 250

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 AWG 247

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 AWG 2,276

$1,490 AWG 2,667

-14.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$566 AWG 1,013

$1,192 AWG 2,134

-52.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,557 AWG 2,787

$2,848 AWG 5,097

-45.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,402 AWG 2,510

$2,508 AWG 4,489

-44.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,591 AWG 6,428

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: September 14, 2026

Last update for Noord: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,272 in Santa Cruz versus $1,490 in Noord. 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

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

Santa Cruz costs about 1% more than Noord, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,788 per month in Santa Cruz and $2,747 in Noord. 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 $1,858 in Santa Cruz and $1,831 in Noord. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 13% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Noord, where all-in costs run around $1,831, than in Santa Cruz at $1,858. 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.