Are you considering a move to Santa Cruz, California, United States, and wondering about the cost of living? Santa Cruz, California is a diverse city with a lot to offer, but like any city, it comes with its own set of expenses. In this page, we'll break down the cost of living in Santa Cruz, California and help you understand whether $6065 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $6895.83.
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Restaurants |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
18.0 $ |
|
|
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
75.0 $ |
|
|
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
10.0 $ |
|
|
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
6.0 $ |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
7.0 $ |
|
|
Cappuccino (regular) |
5.28 $ |
|
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Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
3.11 $ |
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Water (12 oz small bottle) |
2.31 $ |
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Markets |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
1.47 $ |
|
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Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
6.3 $ |
|
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Rice (white), (1 lb) |
9.08 $ |
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Eggs (regular) (12) |
7.14 $ |
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Local Cheese (1 lb) |
21.61 $ |
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Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
27.0 $ |
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Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
19.39 $ |
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Apples (1 lb) |
9.64 $ |
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Banana (1 lb) |
4.77 $ |
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Oranges (1 lb) |
8.9 $ |
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Tomato (1 lb) |
9.8 $ |
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Potato (1 lb) |
7.34 $ |
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Onion (1 lb) |
5.94 $ |
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Lettuce (1 head) |
4.06 $ |
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Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
2.55 $ |
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Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
15.0 $ |
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Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
2.63 $ |
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Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
4.87 $ |
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Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
12.0 $ |
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Transportation |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.0 $ |
|
|
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
65.0 $ |
|
|
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
8.0 $ |
|
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Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
2.92 $ |
|
|
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
40.0 $ |
|
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Gasoline (1 gallon) |
1.31 $ |
|
|
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
26000.0 $ |
|
|
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
28250.0 $ |
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|
Utilities (Monthly) |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
315.22 $ |
|
|
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) |
-- |
|
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Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
69.67 $ |
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Sports And Leisure |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
50.0 $ |
|
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Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
20.0 $ |
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Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
12.5 $ |
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Childcare |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
1800.0 $ |
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International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
25000.0 $ |
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Clothing And Shoes |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
72.5 $ |
|
|
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
50.0 $ |
|
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1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
87.5 $ |
|
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1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
110.0 $ |
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Rent Per Month |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
3246.25 $ |
|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
2799.75 $ |
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Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
6000.0 $ |
|
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Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
4385.0 $ |
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Buy Apartment Price |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
10193.42 $ |
|
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Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
8124.6 $ |
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Salaries And Financing |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
6895.83 $ |
|
|
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate |
6.7 % |
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The monthly expenses for living in Santa Cruz, California come to a total of approximately $6065. This includes an average monthly rent of around $3246 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $350 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $1756 per month.
Living in Santa Cruz, California appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $6895.83. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in Santa Cruz, California, you would likely need an income exceeding $6895.83.
In Santa Cruz, California, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $6895.83, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.
The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of Santa Cruz, California is approximately $3246. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $2799.75 for such an apartment.
The expense for groceries in Santa Cruz, California can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $1443 per month for groceries. Nevertheless, the actual costs may change depending on various factors, including the specific items bought, the choice of stores, and the availability of discounts or special offers.
The cost of living in United States can vary significantly depending on the particular city you have in mind. Using a nationwide average might not provide accurate information. To get a more precise understanding, it's crucial to examine the cost of living in various cities throughout United States.
There's a low overall risk but that comes with a heap of caveats. This city was once considered one of the most dangerous in America. Rampant crime, drug use, and homelessness controlled the streets. Police have since done a great job of cleaning up much of the crime, but there's still a grit to this seaside beauty.
Santa Cruz Metro provides the bus service here and throughout the county. Greyhound and Amtrack are also available in this area. In town, you've got traditional taxis and rideshares. There is also an in-town trolley system that mainly goes up and down Pacific Avenue. Whatever you choose, there's a low risk, but be vigilant at bus stops as there are a lot of homeless people here who can become aggressive.
I'm going back to 2019 for crime stats on this one because there was a sharp drop off during the pandemic. There were 18 pickpockets or purse snatching in 2019, a fraction of the 2,363 thefts that happened. There's low risk if you protect your valuables and keep belongings secured.
Wildfires are the biggest risk here and when one starts it can get big quickly. Assuming there isn't a wildfire burning during your visit, there's a low risk. If there is a fire, it quickly goes up to medium.
There's a low risk of mugging here but the robbery rate is higher than the national average. Since there is a grittier side to this city, it's worth the warning about not fighting back if someone takes your stuff by force. It's not worth risking your life.
With a more remote location on the coast and no military bases nearby, there's a low risk of terrorism in Santa Cruz.
The only reported scam that might impact a tourist is a romance scam that starts with meeting someone online and eventually they gain access to your accounts or convince you to give them money. You know better than that, right? We'll call it a low-risk.
Rape statistics are now at the lowest level in four years, and there is a one in 2,406 chance of that happening. Nothing else stands out that should give female travelers concern about being here other than the same concerns for others. You should have your guard up here, but there's no quantifying reason to say there's anything but a low risk.
Santa Cruz hasn't had a tap water violation since 2016, so there's a low risk. It also meets or exceeds all requirements of the EPA and state agencies.
The Visas get handled at the airport, border, or port of entry. You need nothing else to get into Santa Cruz. The drinking age is 21, so if you are going to drink alcohol, carry an ID with you.
You'll use the U.S. Dollar here. Don't carry around cash if you can and certainly don't talk to anyone about the cash you end up carrying. One credit card should suffice and make sure to set purchase limits on it before you go. That way you'll be alerted if there's a suspicious charge.
Not a whole lot of difference between summer and winter here. The coldest months have highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. The warmest months have highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. Bring rain gear, but you might not need it. That rain jacket might help with walks on the beach as the ocean can kick up some high, splashy waves in this region.
The San Jose International Airport is about 40 minutes north. San Francisco's airport tacks on another 20-minute drive at least, do plan for an hour to get there. Oakland's Airport is about 1:15 from Santa Cruz. With airports in the bay area, always add 30 minutes to travel time due to traffic. You can also check the CalTrans website for possible delays along the way.
Wildfires have notoriously shut down parts of this area, making it a perfect place for travel insurance. If you get a rental car, you should add extra insurance on it as well or make sure your vehicle insurance covers car theft or break-ins in rental cars.
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 60°F | 61°F | 62°F | 64°F | 66°F | 67°F | 68°F | 68°F | 70°F | 69°F | 63°F | 59°F |
| Temp | 51°F | 53°F | 55°F | 56°F | 58°F | 60°F | 61°F | 61°F | 62°F | 60°F | 55°F | 51°F |
| Low | 45°F | 47°F | 49°F | 50°F | 53°F | 55°F | 56°F | 57°F | 56°F | 53°F | 49°F | 45°F |
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 15°C | 16°C | 16°C | 17°C | 18°C | 19°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 20°C | 17°C | 15°C |
| Temp | 10°C | 11°C | 12°C | 13°C | 14°C | 15°C | 16°C | 16°C | 16°C | 15°C | 12°C | 10°C |
| Low | 7°C | 8°C | 9°C | 10°C | 11°C | 12°C | 13°C | 13°C | 13°C | 11°C | 9°C | 7°C |