Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, CA and Miami, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, CA and Miami, FL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Santa Cruz, CA is 11.5% cheaper than Miami, FL without rent, and 20.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Santa Cruz, CA is 4.1% cheaper than Miami, FL without rent, and 4.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Santa Cruz, CA
Miami, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.44 $22.44
$29.58 $29.58
-24.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.7 $79.7
$120 $120
-33.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.36 $12.36
$13.19 $13.19
-6.29%
Cappuccino
$5.85 $5.85
$5.45 $5.45
7.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.34 $3.34
2.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.77 $2.77
-8.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.93 $6.93
$8.06 $8.06
-14.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.46 $7.46
$9.26 $9.26
-19.44%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz, CA
Miami, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.23 $1.23
16.26%
White Bread (500g)
$5.16 $5.16
$3.83 $3.83
34.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.65 $6.65
$5.22 $5.22
27.39%
Eggs
$5.96 $5.96
$5.45 $5.45
9.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.24 $23.24
$13.28 $13.28
75.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.85 $14.85
$13.79 $13.79
7.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.7 $23.7
$20.12 $20.12
17.79%
Apples (1kg)
$7.05 $7.05
$4.69 $4.69
50.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.71 $1.71
62.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$3.53 $3.53
50.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$4.08 $4.08
83.58%
Potato (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$2.65 $2.65
46.42%
Onion (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$3.34 $3.34
17.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.9 $2.9
$2.72 $2.72
6.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.97 $1.97
45.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.16 $14.16
$9.95 $9.95
42.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.02 $12.02
$15.05 $15.05
-20.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.35 $2.35
-8.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.94 $2.94
-9.18%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Santa Cruz, CA
Miami, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.24 $2.24
-8.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 $65.2
$103 $103
-36.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 $4.09
$4.07 $4.07
0.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.32 $1.32
46.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.9 $38.9
$45.61 $45.61
-14.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$0.88 $0.88
40.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K $34.9K
$30.9K $30.9K
13.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$25.7K $25.7K
3.08%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz, CA
Miami, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 $221
$145 $145
52.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.05 $47.05
$60.8 $60.8
-22.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.8 $67.8
$63.4 $63.4
6.97%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz, CA
Miami, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 $60.2
$65.1 $65.1
-7.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.61 $24.61
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.04 $17.04
$16.08 $16.08
5.97%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz, CA
Miami, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,225 $3,225
$1,433 $1,433
125.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.5K $38.5K
$25.8K $25.8K
48.98%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz, CA
Miami, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 $63.2
$50.2 $50.2
25.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.64 $46.64
$53.8 $53.8
-13.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 $79.3
$91.8 $91.8
-13.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$115 $115
0.67%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz, CA
Miami, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,893 $2,893
$2,942 $2,942
-1.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,648 $2,648
$2,120 $2,120
24.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,700 $5,700
$5,268 $5,268
8.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,219 $4,219
$3,665 $3,665
15.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,235 $9,235
$6,081 $6,081
51.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,116 $8,116
$3,841 $3,841
111.34%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz, CA
Miami, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,594 $5,594
$4,186 $4,186
33.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.55
-2.90%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Santa Cruz, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Miami, FL: October 27, 2025

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