Santa Cruz

Cost of Living in Santa Cruz, CA (2026): Rent, Utilities & Take-Home

$630 left/mo

Photo: Michael / Wikimedia

$4,697/mo in Santa Cruz. $630 left each month. Prices near the US average.

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Monthly costs

Take-home $5,327/mo.

Taxes$1,651
Rent$2,638
Other$2,059
Left$630

Pay and tax, per year

Gross household pay: $83,730
Federal income tax: −$9,591
Social Security and Medicare: −$6,405
State income tax (CA): −$3,814
Take-home pay: $63,920
Effective tax rate: 23.7%

Living costs, per month

Rent, 1br: $2,638
Groceries: $433
Getting around: $489
Healthcare: $487
Utilities and internet: $271
Everything else: $379
Total spending: $4,697

After tax and rent

$630 left/mo

Stats

Rent: $3,141; 2 bd median
Take-home: $5,327; Per month
Tax: 24%; Of pay
Prices: 8% above; US, besides rent

Average electric bill in California

About $282 a month for a household using 900 kWh. That is the EIA residential price for California in 2025, 31.35¢ per kWh. It is a state average, not a Santa Cruz utility bill, and the utilities line in the monthly costs above already includes a modelled power cost.

Moving from Santa Cruz

Moving from Santa Cruz to Los Angeles