Dublin, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Santa Cruz, CA has a modeled overall cost index 12.5% higher than Dublin, CA.

Dublin, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,970 / month
Santa Cruz, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $4,800 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Dublin, CA and Santa Cruz, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Dublin, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $806/month in Santa Cruz, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $159,678 in Santa Cruz, CA

Regional cost estimates: Dublin, CA uses Fremont, CA. Santa Cruz, CA uses San Jose, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 12.5%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$806

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$9.7K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Dublin, CA

Population:69K

Cost Index:

167.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.27M

Santa Cruz, CA

Population:62K

Cost Index:

188.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.24M

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Dublin, CA

The Golden State

69K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 69K residents.

Santa Cruz, CA

The Golden State

62K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 62K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dublin, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Dublin, CA	Santa Cruz, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$4,146/mo	$5,051/mo	↑ $905more	21.8%
Other	$1,100/mo	$1,059/mo	↓ $40.86less	3.7%
Transportation	$848/mo	$817/mo	↓ $31.50less	3.7%
Groceries	$690/mo	$677/mo	↓ $12.93less	1.9%
Healthcare	$432/mo	$423/mo	↓ $8.09less	1.9%
All Utilities	$284/mo	$278/mo	↓ $5.32less	1.9%

Housing

↑ 21.8%

Dublin, CA

$4,146

Santa Cruz, CA

$5,051

Difference

$905

Other

↓ 3.7%

Dublin, CA

$1,100

Santa Cruz, CA

$1,059

Difference

$40.86

less

Transportation

↓ 3.7%

Dublin, CA

$848

Santa Cruz, CA

$817

Difference

$31.50

less

Groceries

↓ 1.9%

Dublin, CA

$690

Santa Cruz, CA

$677

Difference

$12.93

less

Healthcare

↓ 1.9%

Dublin, CA

$432

Santa Cruz, CA

$423

Difference

$8.09

less

All Utilities

↓ 1.9%

Dublin, CA

$284

Santa Cruz, CA

$278

Difference

$5.32

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,920

To$3,620

↑ $700

1 Bed

From$3,250

To$3,760

↑ $510

2 Bed

From$3,970

To$4,800

↑ $830

3 Bed

From$5,080

To$6,120

↑ $1,040

Dublin, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,250–$3,250/mo

Santa Cruz, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,900–$3,870/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Dublin, CA

$8,306

Monthly in Santa Cruz, CA

$806

Difference

Home Values

Dublin

Santa Cruz

$1.27M

Median Value

$1.24M

↓ -7%

YoY Change

↑ +0.7%

↑ +25.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +25.8%

$1.27M

Price Range

$648K - $1.27M

Homes in Santa Cruz are 2% less expensive than Dublin

Calculate payment - Dublin Calculate payment - Santa Cruz

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Dublin, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Santa Cruz, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Dublin, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Santa Cruz, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Dublin

Santa Cruz

49 Good

Air Quality

47 Good

53%

Good Air Days

55.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌡

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

11 days

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

11 days

Before moving from Dublin, CA to Santa Cruz, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Santa Cruz, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Dublin, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Dublin to Santa Cruz moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Santa Cruz, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dublin, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

How do the cost estimates for Dublin, CA and Santa Cruz, CA compare?

Santa Cruz, CA has a modeled overall cost index 12.5% higher than Dublin, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Dublin, CA, the model estimates $159,678 in Santa Cruz, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Dublin, CA and Santa Cruz, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,970/month in Dublin, CA and $4,800/month in Santa Cruz, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.