Santa Cruz vs Santa Monica
US
United States
US
United StatesSanta Cruz, United States compared with Santa Monica, United States: cost of living, scores, climate and more.
At a glance
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Nomad score | 6.1 / 10 | 6.7 / 10 |
| Cost of living | $5,240 / mo | $5,680 / mo |
| Internet speed | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Weather now | 27° / 13°C | 23° / 19°C |
| Air quality (AQI) | 54 Moderate | 86 Moderate |
| Community votes | 0 0 | 0 0 |
Climate averages
Yearly averages of monthly climate data
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Average high | 19.9°C | 22.5°C |
| Average low | 10.1°C | 11.8°C |
| Precipitation | 74 mm / mo | 42 mm / mo |
| Sunshine | 310 h / mo | 311 h / mo |
| Humidity | 75% | 68% |
| Rain days | 4.6 / mo | 3 / mo |
| Wind speed | 13.7 km/h | 14.4 km/h |
US
Santa Cruz · average high by month
J 16
F 16
M 16
A 18
M 21
J 23
J 24
A 25
S 25
O 22
N 18
D 16
US
Santa Monica · average high by month
J 18
F 19
M 18
A 21
M 22
J 25
J 27
A 29
S 28
O 25
N 22
D 18
Air quality
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| US AQI | 54 | 86 |
| PM2.5 | 9.9 µg/m³ | 22.9 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 13.6 µg/m³ | 26.5 µg/m³ |
| Ozone | 86 µg/m³ | 139 µg/m³ |
| UV index | 5.9 | 6.2 |
Business & Economy
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Blockchain & Crypto Adoption | 5.9 | 7.4 |
| Local Payment Services | 9.1 | 9.3 |
| Startup Scene | 7.1 | 8.9 |
Climate & Environment
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioning | 5.1 | 7.4 |
| Green Spaces | 8.3 | 7.2 |
| Natural Disaster Risk | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Noise Pollution | 6.4 | 5.1 |
| Seasonal Variety | 5.8 | 4.4 |
| Weather | 8.2 | 8.7 |
Connectivity
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Network Coverage | 8.7 | 9.2 |
| Power Grid Reliability | 8.3 | 8.7 |
| Public WiFi Availability | 6.6 | 8.0 |
| VPN Reliability | 9.0 | 9.1 |
Cost & Affordability
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation Cost | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| Cost of Living | 2.5 | 2.2 |
| Currency Stability | 9.4 | 9.5 |
| Entertainment Cost | 3.9 | 2.7 |
| Food & Groceries | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| Gym Membership Cost | 4.4 | 3.0 |
| Transportation Cost | 4.6 | 4.0 |
Culture & Entertainment
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Culture | 7.1 | 7.7 |
| Indoors Fun | 6.3 | 6.9 |
| Language Learning Opportunities | 4.0 | 5.4 |
| Local Experiences & Tours | 7.4 | 7.3 |
| Nightlife | 5.9 | 6.6 |
| Outdoors & Nature | 9.1 | 8.7 |
Digital Nomad Community
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Nomad Events & Meetups | 4.3 | 6.7 |
| Nomad Friendly | 6.0 | 7.2 |
| Online Community Presence | 4.1 | 6.2 |
Digital Nomad Essentials
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Cafes with WiFi | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Coworking Spaces Availability | 5.9 | 8.3 |
| Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes | 6.5 | 7.8 |
| Digital Nomad Popularity | 4.2 | 7.0 |
| Internet Speed | 8.4 | 9.0 |
| Local SIM Card Availability | 9.0 | 9.0 |
Food & Fitness
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Fitness Facilities | 7.5 | 8.7 |
| Food Scene | 7.5 | 8.1 |
| Healthy Food Options | 8.3 | 9.0 |
| Yoga Studios | 8.3 | 9.0 |
Healthcare
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | 5.6 | 6.0 |
| Healthcare Affordability | 2.8 | 2.7 |
| Healthcare Quality | 8.4 | 9.2 |
Legal & Administrative
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad Visa Availability | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Ease of Business Registration | 6.5 | 6.7 |
| Ease of Opening Bank Account | 4.8 | 5.0 |
| Freedom of Speech | 9.1 | 9.2 |
| Political Stability | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| Tax Friendliness | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Visa Ease | 4.7 | 5.5 |
Quality of Life
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Air Quality | 7.7 | 5.9 |
| Cleanliness | 7.3 | 7.1 |
| Environmental Quality | 8.1 | 7.3 |
| Family Friendly | 7.7 | 7.7 |
| Language Barrier | 9.6 | 9.4 |
| Work-Life Balance | 7.9 | 7.1 |
Safety & Tolerance
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Female Friendly | 7.7 | 8.1 |
| Racial Tolerance | 7.6 | 7.8 |
| Safety | 7.3 | 7.4 |
Transportation
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Airport Connectivity | 6.3 | 8.5 |
| Cycling | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Intercity Travel Options | 5.4 | 7.4 |
| Public Transit | 4.4 | 6.9 |
| Ride-sharing Services | 8.1 | 9.1 |
| Scooter/Bike Rental Availability | 5.9 | 8.5 |
| Walkability | 6.8 | 8.4 |
Work Environment
Scores out of 10
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Coworking Quality | 7.0 | 8.6 |
| Freelance Ecosystem | 6.1 | 8.1 |
| Networking Opportunities | 6.6 | 8.5 |
| Remote Job Opportunities | 7.3 | 8.5 |
| Time Zone Favorability | 8.3 | 7.4 |
Clothing
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Jeans | $60 per pair | $70 per pair |
| Summer Dress | $45 per dress | $55 per dress |
| Running Shoes | $100 per pair | $110 per pair |
Dining Out
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Dining Out | $150 per month | $200 per month |
Entertainment
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Cinema Ticket | $14 per ticket | $16 per ticket |
Food & Dining
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | $5.00 per cup | $5.50 per cup |
| Beer | $7.00 per pint | $7.50 per pint |
| Meal (Inexpensive) | $18 per meal | $17 per meal |
| Meal (Mid-range, 2 people) | $75 per meal | $75 per meal |
| Fast Food Combo | $11 per meal | $11 per meal |
| Apples | $3.50 per kg | $2.99 per kg |
| Bread | $4.00 per loaf | $4.50 per loaf |
| Water (1.5L bottle) | $2.00 per bottle | $2.00 per bottle |
| Milk | $1.50 per liter | $4.29 per liter |
| Rice | $2.50 per kg | $1.80 per kg |
| Chicken Fillets | $12 per kg | $7.50 per kg |
| Beef | $16 per kg | $9.00 per kg |
| Wine (Mid-range) | $18 per bottle | $14 per bottle |
Groceries
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $400 per month | $400 per month |
Health Insurance
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Health Insurance | $250 per month | $250 per month |
Healthcare
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Visit (GP) | $150 per visit | $120 per visit |
| Pharmacy (basic meds) | $12 per purchase | $15 per purchase |
Housing
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,800 per month | $2,200 per month |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) | $2,200 per month | $2,800 per month |
| Airbnb (1 month) | $3,500 per month | $2,500 per month |
| Coworking Space | $250 per month | $250 per month |
| Coliving Space | $1,200 per month | $1,600 per month |
Internet & Mobile
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Internet & Mobile | $110 per month | $80 per month |
Leisure Activities
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Leisure Activities | $50 per month | $100 per month |
Personal Care
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Haircut | $30 per visit | $55 per visit |
| Laundry | $8.00 per kg | $7.00 per kg |
Services
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Plan | $45 per month | $55 per month |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | $70 per month | $70 per month |
| SIM Card (Tourist, prepaid) | $15 one-time | $35 one-time |
| Gym Membership | $55 per month | $65 per month |
| Tennis Court (Weekend) | $25 per hour | $25 per hour |
Transportation
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Transportation | $70 per month | $70 per month |
| Taxi Start | $3.50 per trip | $3.50 per trip |
| Taxi per km | $2.50 per km | $2.50 per km |
| Monthly Transport Pass | $70 per month | $70 per month |
| Ride-hailing (5km) | $12 per trip | $13 per trip |
| Gasoline | $1.30 per liter | $4.60 per liter |
| Scooter Rental | $35 per month | $35 per month |
Utilities
Local prices in US dollars
|
US
Santa Cruz
|
US
Santa Monica
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | $150 per month | $120 per month |