Cost of Living in Santa Cruz, CA - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,516 (excluding rent), and $4,217 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $3,040 (excluding rent), and $7,762 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.63 $22.63

$15.08 $15.08

$45.25 $45.25

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.1 $79.1

$59.4 $59.4

$198 $198

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 $12.35

$9.88 $9.88

$15.8 $15.8

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$3.92 $3.92

$9.8 $9.8

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

$3.38 $3.38

$2.54 $2.54

$5.08 $5.08

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.97 $1.97

$3.93 $3.93

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.04 $5.04

$10.09 $10.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.41 $7.41

$5.93 $5.93

$11.86 $11.86

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.78 $0.78

$1.83 $1.83

White Bread (500g)

$5.2 $5.2

$2.84 $2.84

$10.48 $10.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.83 $6.83

$2.92 $2.92

$15.65 $15.65

Eggs

$5.99 $5.99

$3.91 $3.91

$8.98 $8.98

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.94 $23.94

$13.48 $13.48

$53.9 $53.9

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.71 $14.71

$6.5 $6.5

$43.31 $43.31

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.54 $23.54

$13.85 $13.85

$39.86 $39.86

Apples (1kg)

$7.04 $7.04

$3.26 $3.26

$21.75 $21.75

Banana (1kg)

$2.9 $2.9

$1.78 $1.78

$8.93 $8.93

Oranges (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$2.22 $2.22

$13.31 $13.31

Tomato (1kg)

$7.32 $7.32

$2.92 $2.92

$11.56 $11.56

Potato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.26 $2.26

$9.05 $9.05

Onion (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.24 $2.24

$6.72 $6.72

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.46 $1.46

$4.86 $4.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.18 $1.18

$3.93 $3.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.09 $14.09

$10.06 $10.06

$18.11 $18.11

Wine (Bottle)

$12.02 $12.02

$9.01 $9.01

$40.07 $40.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.4 $1.4

$4.19 $4.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.49 $1.49

$4.97 $4.97

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.23 $2.23

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.9 $65.9

$50.7 $50.7

$65.9 $65.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.77 $3.77

$8.05 $8.05

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 $1.94

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$38.93 $38.93

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.3 $1.3

$1.17 $1.17

$1.67 $1.67

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35K $35K

$23.9K $23.9K

$38K $38K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.4K $25.4K

$45.8K $45.8K

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

$223 $223

$151 $151

$415 $415

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

$46.18 $46.18

$24.65 $24.65

$118 $118

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$40.04 $40.04

$110 $110

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.3 $59.3

$17.29 $17.29

$59.3 $59.3

Cinema Ticket

$17.06 $17.06

$12.04 $12.04

$20.07 $20.07

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

$3,183 $3,183

$2,091 $2,091

$5,019 $5,019

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.6K $38.6K

$32.5K $32.5K

$45.7K $45.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 $63.2

$39.93 $39.93

$98.8 $98.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.81 $45.81

$29.87 $29.87

$74.7 $74.7

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.2 $79.2

$59.4 $59.4

$149 $149

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$91.1 $91.1

$405 $405

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,930 $2,930

$2,537 $2,537

$4,567 $4,567

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,675 $2,675

$2,027 $2,027

$3,040 $3,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,499 $5,499

$4,419 $4,419

$8,836 $8,836

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,134 $4,134

$3,737 $3,737

$4,843 $4,843

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,750 $8,750

$7,753 $7,753

$10.6K $10.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,868 $7,868

$7,222 $7,222

$8,253 $8,253

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,617 $5,617

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

7.65

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

Last update: December 2, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌎 North america

Cost of Living in Santa Cruz, CA - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz sits on the pricier side among California coastal towns, especially for housing near the beach. If you value climate, access to nature, and a walkable downtown, it can offer solid value for longer stays, digital nomads, and expats who can tolerate a smaller footprint. Neighborhood choice matters: Westside and Seabright blend convenience with charm, while Live Oak or areas a short drive away tend to be more affordable and still bike-friendly. Transit and biking save costs if you skip a car. Seasonal tourism can nudge prices at peak times, but bargains appear in shoulder months. Cost of Living in Santa Cruz, CA, United States sets the frame for planning. Tip: test a few neighborhoods by weeknight and weekends.

Day-to-day life centers on a compact, bike-friendly footprint with markets, cafes, and beach access. Housing searches reward patience and locality; you’ll find a mix of smaller apartments, shared options, and family-friendly homes, with leases that suit short stints or longer stays. Grocery options range from farmers markets to organic grocers, and restaurants lean toward casual, coastal fare. For transport, biking is popular, with several routes along the coast, and public buses connect the hills to downtown. Errands can take a bit more planning outside peak tourist hours. Santa Cruz, CA, United States living cost varies by neighborhood and season, so test options before committing. Tip: set a monthly cap on flexible expenses and use bike or bus for daily commutes.

To balance life in Santa Cruz, frame a budgeting method around housing, groceries, and transit as anchors, with leisure and dining as flexible categories. If you crave beach vibes and a lively scene, lean toward Westside or downtown, but be prepared for higher rents and crowds in summer. For quieter days, Eastside or deeper neighborhoods offer more space and slower rhythms. Seasonality matters: peak surf and event seasons drive availability, parking, and wait times, while shoulder seasons can yield calmer streets and more bargaining room on leases. Build a simple monthly plan, compare neighborhoods on walkability, safety, and access to parks, and anchor your routine around a realistic mix of work and rest. Tip: use short trial stays to gauge fit.