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Chicago · Registered nurse · $98,500 · One adult, renting a 1-bedroom
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Santa Cruz skyline
Michael from San Jose, California, USA. CC BY 2.0. Photo source · License
San Jose skyline
Michael from San Jose, California, USA. CC BY 2.0. Photo source · License

Moving from Santa Cruz to San Jose

Moving from Santa Cruz to San Jose: +$904/mo after tax & rent

Alabama: $2,168 left in a typical monthArizona: $2,126 left in a typical monthArkansas: $2,400 left in a typical monthCalifornia: $1,645 left in a typical monthColorado: $2,458 left in a typical monthConnecticut: $2,294 left in a typical monthDelaware: $1,980 left in a typical monthDistrict of Columbia: $2,913 left in a typical monthFlorida: $2,204 left in a typical monthGeorgia: $1,988 left in a typical monthIdaho: $2,056 left in a typical monthIllinois: $2,569 left in a typical monthIndiana: $2,407 left in a typical monthIowa: $2,838 left in a typical monthKansas: $2,391 left in a typical monthKentucky: $2,312 left in a typical monthLouisiana: $2,486 left in a typical monthMaine: $1,949 left in a typical monthMaryland: $2,359 left in a typical monthMassachusetts: $2,076 left in a typical monthMichigan: $2,360 left in a typical monthMinnesota: $2,600 left in a typical monthMississippi: $2,011 left in a typical monthMissouri: $2,581 left in a typical monthMontana: $2,222 left in a typical monthNebraska: $2,541 left in a typical monthNevada: $2,296 left in a typical monthNew Hampshire: $2,794 left in a typical monthNew Jersey: $1,864 left in a typical monthNew Mexico: $2,037 left in a typical monthNew York: $2,320 left in a typical monthNorth Carolina: $2,194 left in a typical monthNorth Dakota: $3,238 left in a typical monthOhio: $2,583 left in a typical monthOklahoma: $2,455 left in a typical monthOregon: $1,624 left in a typical monthPennsylvania: $2,380 left in a typical monthRhode Island: $2,094 left in a typical monthSouth Carolina: $2,108 left in a typical monthSouth Dakota: $2,780 left in a typical monthTennessee: $2,530 left in a typical monthTexas: $2,620 left in a typical monthUtah: $1,822 left in a typical monthVermont: $2,118 left in a typical monthVirginia: $2,326 left in a typical monthWashington: $2,473 left in a typical monthWest Virginia: $2,277 left in a typical monthWisconsin: $2,642 left in a typical monthWyoming: $2,849 left in a typical month
Less leftMore left

Santa CruzSan JoseAbout 36 miles apart, close enough to drive.

  • San Jose leaves you more
  • Rent under 30% of pay
  • 257 sunny days

$1,892/mo in San Jose. $988/mo in Santa Cruz. +$10,848 a year.

Santa Cruz

$988

left each month

San Jose

$1,892

+$904 vs Santa Cruz

Full comparison
San Jose wins 2 of 4Santa Cruz 2 · ties 0
$5,685Take-home · San Jose$7,476
$2,638Rent · Santa Cruz$3,011
$2,059Other bills · Santa Cruz$2,573
$988Left over · San Jose$1,892

Next

Leftover vs a cost index

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 999 households moved Santa Cruz → San Jose (about 1,531 people, average AGI $106,115). 1,098 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

See full breakdown
Per monthSanta CruzSan Jose
Take-home$5,685$7,476
Rent$2,638$3,011
All other costs$2,059$2,573
Left over$988$1,892

Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Santa Cruz and San Jose changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.

What the move itself costs

About 43 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,700–$3,200
Container or pod
$1,150–$2,150
Rent a truck
$400–$750

Movers in San Jose and how to hire one →

Explore more

Other moves from Santa Cruz

Dig into San Jose

Moving from California

Questions

Is San Jose cheaper than Santa Cruz after tax and rent?

For one adult in a one-bedroom, San Jose leaves about $904 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $2,638 in Santa Cruz and $3,011 in San Jose.

Does San Jose have state income tax?

San Jose is in California, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Santa Cruz to San Jose?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.