Cost of Living in Santa Cruz County, CA

Modeled annual cost: $105,985.

Median family income: $131,966.

Affordability Snapshot

CA County Median

$58,396

State Rank

1thMost expensive counties in CA out of 58See California county rankings

Median Income

$131,966

Location Type

Metro

Biggest category:

Housing is the biggest expense in Santa Cruz County, CA.

$36,672 per year.

Cost breakdown

Total

$105,985

Per year

  • Housing:$36,672
  • Taxes:$29,961
  • Transport:$13,840
  • Other Costs:$13,134
  • Healthcare:$6,747
  • Food:$5,631
  • Childcare:$0

* Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Cheaper counties in California

1Imperial County, CA
$47,311
2Kern County, CA
$49,670
3Glenn County, CA
$50,489
4Del Norte County, CA
$50,714
5Modoc County, CA
$50,936

Popular comparisons in California

See how Santa Cruz County, CA compares across the country.

Explore our cost of living interactive map to compare Santa Cruz County, CA with multiple counties in the United States.

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Cost of Living in Santa Cruz County, CA (2026)