CostIndexUSA

Oxnard, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostCA
Oxnard
110.5
overall index
$2,975/mo rent
CA
Santa Cruz
109.9
overall index
$3,425/mo rent

Oxnard and Santa Cruz have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing4.0%
Oxnard
171.1
Santa Cruz
164.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Oxnard
105.2
Santa Cruz
105.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Oxnard
105.3
Santa Cruz
105.3
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Oxnard
95.3
Santa Cruz
95.3
Utilities≈ Equal
Oxnard
152.9
Santa Cruz
152.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Oxnard to see what you'd need to earn in Santa Cruz to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Cruz, CA
$79,600
$400 less needed in Santa Cruz

Formula: salary × (109.9 ÷ 110.5) = salary × 0.9946. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Oxnard, CA

Median Home Price
$862,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,975
Housing Index
171.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.1×

Santa Cruz, CA

Median Home Price
$1,091,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,425
Housing Index
164.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.5×

Oxnard has 4.0% lower housing costs compared to Santa Cruz.

Income & Job Market

Oxnard, CA

Median Household Income
$107,700
Per Capita Income
$61,400
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
202,063
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingMilitaryRetail

Santa Cruz, CA

Median Household Income
$105,600
Per Capita Income
$60,200
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
64,725
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyTourismAgricultureHealthcare

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Oxnard, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Santa Cruz, CA
2.6×income-to-rent ratio

61% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.