salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 9.7 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. It is a highly educated city: 57.6% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $128,840 a year. That is $62 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other California cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of California. It is number 544 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Santa Cruz?
Share of households by yearly income. 46.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Santa Cruz
| Size | Santa Cruz | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,733 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,092 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,924 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,133 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Santa Cruz overall?
Everyday prices in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area are 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.
Taxes and bills in Santa Cruz
Life in Santa Cruz
What jobs pay in Santa Cruz
| Job | Median pay | Rent / pay |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $170,960 | 22.6% |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,190 | 23.1% |
| Lawyer | $164,790 | 23.5% |
| Pharmacist | $161,940 | 23.9% |
| Physician Assistant | $159,030 | 24.3% |
| Software Developer | $156,910 | 24.6% |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 | 29.6% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $124,450 | 31.1% |
| Police Officer | $122,970 | 31.4% |
| Civil Engineer | $118,050 | 32.7% |
| Operations Manager | $105,360 | 36.7% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $99,260 | 38.9% |
| Accountant | $84,920 | 45.5% |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $81,000 | 47.7% |
| Market Research Analyst | $78,880 | 49.0% |
| HVAC Technician | $78,330 | 49.3% |
| Carpenter | $77,690 | 49.8% |
| Electrician | $76,610 | 50.5% |
| Plumber | $68,130 | 56.7% |
| Firefighter | $64,980 | 59.5% |
| Truck Driver | $59,500 | 65.0% |
| Medical Assistant | $50,090 | 77.2% |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,110 | 80.3% |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,940 | 80.6% |
| Restaurant Cook | $44,560 | 86.7% |
| Warehouse Worker | $44,050 | 87.7% |
| Retail Salesperson | $38,620 | 100.1% |
| Cashier | $37,390 | 103.4% |
| Server (Waiter/Waitress) | $35,930 | 107.6% |
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Santa Cruz?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $5,168 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,209,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $120,900 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Santa Cruz, CA?
Renting in Santa Cruz costs a median of about $3,221 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Santa Cruz?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $128,840 a year, or $62 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Santa Cruz cheap or expensive?
Santa Cruz is rated Expensive: rent takes 31.0% of the typical household income of $124,540. It ranks 544th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Santa Cruz?
The median homeowner in Santa Cruz pays $6,768 a year in property taxes, about 0.56% of the median home value.
Is Santa Cruz more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in the metro area are 10% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Santa Cruz?
The median home value in Santa Cruz is $1,209,000, about 9.7 times the typical yearly household income.
61,607 people live in Santa Cruz. Numbers are typical (middle) values.