Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, CA and Oak Harbor, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, CA and Oak Harbor, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Cruz, CA is 2.8% cheaper than Oak Harbor, WA without rent, and 26.5% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Cruz, CA is 2.7% cheaper than Oak Harbor, WA without rent, and 39.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz, CA
Oak Harbor, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.89 $22.89
$21.19 $21.19
8.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3 $79.3
$70.6 $70.6
12.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.68 $12.68
$19.00 $19.00
-33.26%
Cappuccino
$5.97 $5.97
$6.80 $6.80
-12.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 $3.39
$2.43 $2.43
39.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.54 $1.54
59.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.90 $6.90
$7.94 $7.94
-13.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.34 $7.34
$6.32 $6.32
16.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz, CA
Oak Harbor, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.17 $1.17
16.24%
White Bread (500g)
$4.96 $4.96
$4.21 $4.21
17.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.77 $6.77
$5.98 $5.98
13.21%
Eggs
$6.10 $6.10
$5.44 $5.44
12.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.51 $23.51
$19.55 $19.55
20.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.75 $14.75
$12.39 $12.39
19.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.74 $23.74
$20.07 $20.07
18.29%
Apples (1kg)
$7.23 $7.23
$7.53 $7.53
-3.98%
Banana (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.32 $1.32
120.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$8.85 $8.85
-41.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.74 $7.74
$6.67 $6.67
16.04%
Potato (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$3.75 $3.75
2.40%
Onion (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$4.97 $4.97
-21.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.63 $2.63
7.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.22 $2.22
27.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.84 $13.84
$8.90 $8.90
55.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$30.42 $30.42
$13.10 $13.10
132.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$2.67 $2.67
-22.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$3.96 $3.96
-30.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz, CA
Oak Harbor, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.96 $1.96
4.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.5 $65.5
$56.1 $56.1
16.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.06 $4.06
$3.56 $3.56
14.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.64 $1.64
17.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.13 $39.13
$29.22 $29.22
33.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.28 $1.28
0.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$29.6K $29.6K
19.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$25.9K $25.9K
-1.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz, CA
Oak Harbor, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 $222
$383 $383
-42.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.69 $47.69
$63.0 $63.0
-24.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.2 $66.2
$82.4 $82.4
-19.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz, CA
Oak Harbor, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.6 $59.6
$27.53 $27.53
116.60%
Cinema Ticket
$16.77 $16.77
$14.24 $14.24
17.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz, CA
Oak Harbor, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,166 $3,166
$1,323 $1,323
139.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.5K $38.5K
$23.1K $23.1K
66.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz, CA
Oak Harbor, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 $62.4
$54.6 $54.6
14.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.11 $45.11
$36.76 $36.76
22.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.2 $81.2
$117 $117
-30.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$194 $194
-39.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz, CA
Oak Harbor, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,924 $2,924
$2,286 $2,286
27.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,590 $2,590
$1,622 $1,622
59.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,670 $5,670
$2,976 $2,976
90.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,152 $4,152
$2,126 $2,126
95.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,946 $7,946
$4,003 $4,003
98.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.4K $11.4K
$4,061 $4,061
180.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz, CA
Oak Harbor, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,566 $5,566
$3,356 $3,356
65.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
7
-9.14%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz, CA: March 1, 2026

Last update for Oak Harbor, WA: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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